Response 1
It is probable that during disasters, for instance, earthquakes and epidemics, nurses may be faced with ethical dilemmas, including the rationing of scarce resources. In such a situation, the nurses will face difficulties in selecting patients in that those with the highest probability of survival will receive priority care. The patients considered are those that will achieve maximum benefits. In a time of such crises, there might be very many shortcomings that are majorly caused by the lack of proper flow of communication amongst healthcare workers. I agree with Steph that in managing disasters and averting the crisis, improving communication and coordination in healthcare facilities will be crucial. Some of the issues that can impact a healthcare facility include loss of their leader or impossible conversation with a leader during a crisis, which reduces healthcare workers' morale. Thus, the proposal of a Democratic management leadership can be practical in managing coordinating operations in disasters as the manager becomes central to communication. The leaders should be quick to create vision and strategies for managing disastrous situations. A strong leader is one who is innovative in coming up with solutions.
Response 2
I concur with Alex that there comes a time tough healthcare decision have to be made involving continuation or stopping a life-sustaining treatment. The ethical dilemma in such choices has impactful consequences on the health outcomes. In the contexts where a patient is on life support, the care continuity will result in poor life quality while declining care leads to instant death. The ethical dilemma surrounding the situation is beneficence, which asserts healthcare professionals must enhance the well-being of patients. Another conflicting moral issue is non-maleficence, which states the duty not to harm. Taking a patient off life support is considered doing them harm, but leaving them on to live a poor-quality life is also causing them to harm hence the dilemma of non-maleficence. Likewise, the patient's inability to make decisions or consent to any form of treatment is another ethicality as they may neither authorize nor deny treatment resulting in others deciding for them. Equally, I am with the same viewpoint as Alex that during crises, there is the prevalence of some of the workplace issues, including problems in communication and healthcare performance issues such as medical errors. An autocratic management system is best suited for managing crises. Leaders may be too busy to get time to listen to employees' input, and therefore delegation of what is needed to be done is necessary.
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Response 3
I disagree with Tom that ethical values are inborn; everyone has the power to do good or evil. What I also believe is that individuals' morality is gained overtime where they learn the value system for their surroundings and more so through the guidance of the healthcare moral codes. However, I agree that ethical values are essential in the dispensation of quality health care. An ethical dilemma in the ongoing coronavirus pandemic is the people who do not take the issue seriously and refuse to practice social distancing. The crisis of the coronavirus can be averted through staying at home and minimizing social contact. A contribution to the existing problems is that there are patients and other people with poor moralities have stolen medical supplies in the hospital. A shortage of supplies could prevent the treatment of infected people or limit the provision of face masks needed to protect the most exposed people who are the healthcare workers. Another contribution to the crisis is health workers contracting the virus. A limited number of healthcare workers increases workload and limits the number of people that can be provided care. Nurses who are the front liners are suffering from occupational burnout due to exposure to workplace stressors. I concur with Tom that effective management from transformation leadership can help in handling the workplace issues by bringing change and strategically put plans in motion to combat the novel Corona Virus.
Response 4
I agree with Keli that diverse management styles are viable to a specific healthcare setting, team, or institution. Autocratic leadership involves managers directing employees on what should be done where one faces repercussions for failing to meet organizational norms. Consultative or democratic management style includes employees' opinions in solving organizational problems, which makes them feel like an essential part of the organization. Coaching or mentor management style develops employees through growing their minds and skills set with managers as coaches. Pacesetting is also a management style where leaders set standards for the performance of an organization. The democratic management style and the consultative and coaching management style is best applicable in an organization and is what is observed from Apple's Tim Cook. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare environments are required to use appropriate leadership styles in managing the disease. In times like this, the healthcare systems are experiencing challenges, as most of them are overstretched with the increasing number of patients and a limited amount of resources. Now the healthcare workers are facing an overwhelming defeat tangled with ethical dilemmas on how to manage the situation. I do support that pacesetting and consultative management styles are suitable during the COVID-19 crisis. These approaches help to identify the management skills needed to deal with the arising issues. During an emergency, an influential leader possesses skills such as willpower, adaptability, relationship management, and creativity fundamental in crisis management.
