My In-Depth Exploration of Ethical Dilemmas in Healthcare Administration

Ethical issues are easily noticed in the modern healthcare setup or system, especially during administration. The following dilemmas lie at the heart of my proposed topic and must be covered: their nature, occurrence, or implications. The other fundamental aspect of this analysis is the role of ethical decision-making in establishing administrative actions. Conducting an in-depth analysis, this study aims to shed light on different facets of these moral dilemmas, offering practical suggestions for healthcare officials. Lastly, it attempts to participate in the debate about future ethics innovations that may shed light on what is good practice and thus help solid ethical guidelines towards understanding evolving health settings.

Critique of the Article

1. Citation: Aitamaa, E., Suhonen, R., Puukka, P., & Leino-Kilpi, H. (2019). Ethical problems in nursing management – a cross-sectional survey about solving problems. BMC Health Services Research, 19(1), 417.
2. Research Questions/Hypotheses: The research questions for this study are somewhat implicit and involve exploring the nature of ethical issues faced by nurse managers, their frequency distribution across time, methods used to resolve those challenges, and factors that influence selection choices among these available options.
3. Major Theories Examined: Although the article does not discuss theoretical frameworks directly, theories about organizational ethics and decision-making can be gleaned from it indirectly. The study outlines how nurse managers practice ethical reasoning and decision-making while resolving ethical dilemmas within healthcare organizations.
4. Research Methodology: In Finland, between November 2014 and May 2015, a cross-sectional sick study was conducted. A questionnaire was sent to 214 nurse managers across every level of management. The questionnaire contained sections concerning the demographic background, amount, and graduality of moral issues agreed to exist within respondents’ work experience; the resolution strategies used in such cases with some occupation-related parameters were affirmed (Aitamäal et al., 2019). Therefore, the study had two independent variables: demographic characteristics and work-related factors, with dependent variables measured through different tools. Likert scales the frequency of resorting to problem-solving methods and the perceived usefulness thereof.
5. Summarize the Major Results: The research revealed that for managing ethical dilemmas, nurse managers mainly use traditional methods, including dialogue with nurses and personal values (Aitamaa et al., 2019). In spite of that, most respondents found several other approaches helpful, like getting help from external experts and using ethical principles. The authors concluded that although the most standard methods of problem-solving were conventional, there might be an improvement in effectiveness if a range of approaches were used.
6. Major Contribution of the Study: The authors point out the importance of this study in filling a knowledge gap regarding ethical dilemmas nurse managers face and the approaches they use in dealing with them (Aitamaa et al., 2019). The study produces invaluable information about the current practices of nursing management by evaluating the frequency of problem-solving techniques and how effective they are. It highlights the point that there is a need for diversification in ethical approaches to solving problems.
7. Strengths of the Study with a Focus on Methodology: The study is based on a solid survey design that enables data collection from many nurse managers in various high- and low-level management positions. However, the detailed questionnaire, a unique instrument designed for this research, made it possible to gather information on ethical dilemmas and problem-solving approaches. Additionally, Likert scale-based measures allowed quantification of prevalence and utility associated with application techniques, making the research design quite scientific.
8. Weaknesses of the Study with a Focus on Methodology: A likely limitation is using self-report data since people might have an input or perception bias. Moreover, using a cross-sectional design makes it impossible to infer that relationships between variables are causative. The scope of the study on nurse managers in Finland also complicates the generalization of these findings to larger populations or healthcare contexts. In addition, the need for a more in-depth view of particular ethical dilemmas and situational aspects is also a weakness.

Conclusion

In conclusion, “Ethical Problems in Nursing Management” draws attention to the most common ethical issues and approaches nurse managers tend to employ while addressing them. Its findings support the necessity of including various strategies for improving ethical decision-making among healthcare administrators. Although the well-designed methodology is credible, structural limitations that could nullify some aspects of this research should be indicated. However, the research makes a substantial contribution to medical ethics in management, serving, and not only directing practice and policy but also contributing, among other things, to promoting ethical leadership culture worldwide.

References

Aitamaa, E., Riitta Suhonen, Pauli Puukka, & Leino-Kilpi, H. (2019). Ethical problems in nursing management – a cross-sectional survey about solving problems. BMC Health Services Research, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-4245-4