Ethical leadership is important in nursing administration because it helps leaders work toward delivering the best possible patient care and upholding the integrity of the organization. In this article, we look at the ways that nursing administrators use ethical leadership to make complex decisions and protect the welfare of patients and staff. Ethical leadership has a lasting impact on patient outcomes, staff satisfaction and the healthcare organization’s reputation. Looking at the multi-layered role of ethical leadership reveals how it can be used to create a culture of excellence and morality within healthcare settings.
What is ethical leadership in nursing administration?
Ethical leadership in nursing administration begins with the commitment to do the right thing for the right reason. This leadership philosophy shows respect for ethics and values, as leaders reflect on this in their actions and decision-making.
One of the key characteristics of ethical leadership is integrity. This involves nursing professionals being honest and consistent in all their actions and decisions, and making sure that their personal and professional behavior meets ethical standards. They should take responsibility for their actions and work to correct any mistakes they make.
Showing empathy is another important part of ethical leadership. Patients may respond better if they feel that their issues are heard and understood. This same empathy can also be shown to colleagues and the patient’s family. It’s also important to make decisions without being swayed. Instead, leaders should consider the impact that these decisions will have on others.
The ethical framework in nursing administration includes being committed to making decisions that contribute to the improved wellbeing of patients and staff. This should avoid causing harm, either directly through actions or indirectly through inaction.
Nursing professionals should respect the rights of patients and staff to make informed decisions about their own health and professional practice, even when this goes against what they believe their own choices would be. Nurses are still expected to explain the options and potential risks linked to the patient’s decision. However, the patient should be allowed to make the final choice if they are thought to be mentally able to do so.
The principles of ethical leadership contribute to the day-to-day management and decision-making processes in various ways. This includes delivering high-quality patient care without overstretching staff and resources, respecting patient rights and staff input in care plans and organizational changes and creating a culture of respect and inclusivity. Many online DNP programs, such as the program provided by Wilkes University, now include ethical principles in their curriculum. This prepares students for progressing in their nursing career and understanding the legal and ethical considerations around aspects of healthcare such as patient data and research.
Ethical decision-making in patient care
To prioritize patient welfare, leaders in nursing administration use several strategies to ensure that decisions are centered on the wellbeing of patients. This means considering more than just the clinical aspects of care and thinking about patients’ ethical, emotional, and social needs.
A patient-centered care model highlights the importance of understanding and respecting patients’ unique preferences, values, and needs. Patients and their families are encouraged to participate in care planning and decision-making. For example, a patient might need specific but expensive medication but cannot afford it. Ethical leadership might mean looking at alternative funding sources, negotiating with suppliers for better pricing, or advocating for policy adjustments to ensure patients and others like them receive the necessary treatment. Financial planning is one of the critical skills in ethical decision-making when it comes to patient care.
Impartiality is essential when approaching ethical dilemmas in patient care to ensure that decisions are made fairly. This process involves analyzing situations from other perspectives, considering the rights and needs of everyone involved, and applying the ethical framework and principles discussed earlier.
Ethical leaders can use frameworks such as the four-box method. This involves considering medical indications, patient preferences, quality of life and contextual features to evaluate ethical dilemmas. Its structure can help balance competing interests and make decisions justified from a moral position. For example, leaders might be involved in deciding whether to continue aggressive treatment for a terminally ill patient. Impartial reasoning would include weighing up the medical benefits and burdens of continued treatment, the patient’s values and personal choices, the impact on the patient’s quality of life, and the effects on family members and healthcare resources. By talking to the patient, their family, and the healthcare team and applying ethical principles, the final decision would consider all this. However, the primary consideration would be respecting the patient’s dignity and their wishes.
Another example of ethical decision-making may be based on addressing health disparities. When faced with a situation where a patient might receive below-standard care due to socioeconomic status, language barriers or cultural differences, ethical leaders make decisions that aim to reduce these disparities. This could include using interpreters to communicate with patients and their families, arranging for cultural competency training for staff, or advocating for policies that ensure that all patients have the same access to care and resources.
Promoting employee wellbeing through ethical leadership
Creating a supportive work environment is also the responsibility of nursing leaders. Besides retaining experienced staff, nurses will also provide a better standard of care if their own wellbeing is prioritized.
Burnout, job dissatisfaction, and a lack of professional development can result in healthcare professionals being unable to carry out their jobs. They may make unnecessary mistakes, take time off sick, or decide to quit. Ethical leaders can help to prevent all of this by making changes in the workplace. This might include allowing for flexible schedules to help them manage work and personal commitments. Wellness programs that focus on managing physical and mental health, and finding proactive ways to deal with stress, can also be beneficial.
It’s important to create a supportive work environment where nurses know that they have someone to talk to and are recognized for their hard work and commitment. Regular but short meetings that encourage open discussion and celebrate both small and significant milestones can make them feel more supported.
Nursing can be a hectic role, but leaders who encourage regular breaks during shifts and have adequate cover to ensure that patient care isn’t compromised will see better results. This can reduce the risk of burnout. Limiting overtime to ensure that all employees get enough rest and leisure time to switch off from work will also help with this.
Leaders can also look at the workloads assigned to different members of staff who are on the same pay grade. This ensures that work is distributed fairly and no one person does the bulk of the tasks. It may be necessary to recommend hiring more nurses if there is too much for them to accomplish realistically during their shifts.
Upholding ethical standards in business practices
When making decisions, leaders often have to consider financial pressures alongside patient care. However, the choice doesn’t have to be between ethical decisions and finances. There are ways to reach a balance that works for everyone.
One way is to promote preventive care. While not all health conditions can be prevented, many can, and by taking certain measures, patients can reduce the severity of some health issues. Leaders can train their staff in how to encourage patients to be more proactive in looking after their own health and set up local programs that help patients do this. By reducing the risks of conditions such as diabetes, and obesity-related illnesses, patients see the financial benefits of lower healthcare fees and loss of earnings linked to illness.
Leaders can also actively apply for grants, particularly when there is a prevalence of specific illnesses. By being involved in the local community, regularly networking with professionals who feel passionately about supporting specific causes, and staying informed, they can discover what grants are available and how to apply for them. This financial help can benefit patients in underserved communities who would otherwise face barriers to healthcare.
When facing financial pressures, leaders can ensure that ethical standards are not compromised by looking at other ways to cut costs. These should not impact patient care. For example, if any programs or methods of care are underused, it may be necessary to look at alternative ways to deliver them. Leaders may find that it’s possible to consult with more patients remotely, or that cheaper medications are just as effective for some conditions.
When making these decisions, the ethical aspect would be to find reputable research that proves the effectiveness of the replacement measures. Leaders can also encourage employees to make suggestions of where financial improvements can be made. These are the people who have first-hand experience of working at different levels and may see solutions that those in leadership roles haven’t considered.
By advocating for and implementing policies, leaders can help to identify and address ethical issues that fit in with their business models. For example, they can establish a code of ethical behaviors and actions, as well as making it easier for employees to report anything that goes against this, without repercussions. They can also encourage anyone to report something that may unintentionally put patient safety at risk.
By looking at reports and metrics, leaders can compare this information to previous years and make a note of what was done differently, as this may have contributed to the changes. This helps with seeing where improvements have been made as well as any potential problems.
Other challenges and how to overcome them
The digitization of health records and the increasing complexity of healthcare systems present more ethical challenges for leaders. Patient confidentiality needs to be a priority, even when collaborating with other healthcare professionals. Leaders must ensure that there is a criteria for all employees to follow, so that enough information is shared to enable other departments to help the patient, but irrelevant and confidential information remains private.
Another challenge is sharing information that may accelerate the research and lead to treatments or vaccines in global pandemics. This benefits everyone, but patients or those involved in the research need to give their permission to have certain details disclosed. Leaders also need to follow information from government officials and other agencies. This may impact how much they can tell the public and when, to reduce the risk of panic or a disease spreading faster than it would otherwise.
One more challenge is protecting their staff. For example, some patients can be frightened, and this fear may show itself in the form of them lashing out. Leaders should have clear strategies and provide training so that all employees know what to do if this happens. This will ensure that staff all work together to help without causing further distress to the patient or getting hurt themselves.
Leaders can build trust and encourage patients to voice their concerns through working in the community. This can help them overcome many of the challenges they face. Community members and organizations will see that they are doing everything they can and be more willing to support local healthcare providers. This could be through campaigning or raising money to cover specific shortages, or helping local people improve their health with free or reduced exercise groups and other activities.
Ethical leadership in nursing administration is essential
Ethical leadership in nursing administration is essential for decision-making processes that contribute significantly to patient care, employee wellbeing and organizational integrity. Adopting principles such as integrity, accountability, empathy and fairness helps leaders protect the welfare of patients and staff. This builds trust within healthcare settings. Using ethical frameworks and engaging with the community further shows the commitment to addressing complicated healthcare challenges responsibly. This type of leadership enhances patient outcomes and staff satisfaction, and gains support from communities.
