Name
Chamberlain University
NR-505: Advanced Research Methods: Evidence-Based Practice
Prof. Name
Date
This week’s CITI (Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative) course offered valuable insights into the ethical considerations within research and clinical practice. One of the most striking lessons was understanding the vulnerability of certain populations and how easily they can be exploited if ethical guidelines are not properly followed. Recognizing this emphasized the responsibility healthcare professionals have to safeguard the rights, dignity, and well-being of all individuals participating in research or receiving care.
Furthermore, the course highlighted the role of nurse practitioners as advocates, ensuring that patients not only receive effective treatment but also experience compassionate and ethically grounded care. The alignment between the ANA (American Nurses Association) Code of Ethics and the CITI ethical guidelines reflects a consistent emphasis on protecting patients from harm while promoting healing and recovery.
These ethical frameworks are not abstract principles; rather, they directly shape daily clinical practice. By prioritizing awareness, prevention, treatment, and recovery, healthcare professionals can deliver interventions that reduce suffering and empower patients in their care journey.
Both the ANA Code of Ethics and CITI training modules are designed to provide guidance for professionals dealing with sensitive and vulnerable populations. Their primary goal is to ensure that respect, dignity, and safety are maintained in all healthcare and research-related interactions.
| Ethical Framework | Primary Focus | Key Principles | Application in Practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANA Code of Ethics | Patient-centered care | Advocacy, compassion, respect, integrity | Guides nurse practitioners in delivering ethical care, upholding patient rights, and ensuring moral responsibility in decision-making |
| CITI Training | Research ethics | Protection of vulnerable groups, informed consent, beneficence, justice | Ensures ethical conduct in research involving human participants, reducing risk of harm and exploitation |
Advocacy lies at the heart of ethical nursing practice. Nurse practitioners must ensure that patients’ voices are heard and that care delivery respects their values, preferences, and cultural backgrounds. Ethical advocacy extends beyond clinical treatment—it includes policy development, health education, and supporting informed decision-making.
By integrating ethical advocacy, practitioners not only fulfill professional responsibilities but also contribute to building trust between patients, researchers, and the healthcare system as a whole.
Engaging with these ethical principles reinforced the notion that effective nursing care is not just about clinical competence but also about moral accountability. Each patient encounter requires sensitivity, transparency, and respect for human dignity.
This reflection deepened my understanding of how ethical guidelines serve as protective frameworks for both patients and professionals. They guide us to practice with compassion while ensuring fairness, justice, and integrity remain central to all healthcare and research endeavors.
American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. ANA.
Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative. (2023). CITI program: Human subjects research. CITI Program.
Lachman, V. D. (2016). Ethical challenges in health care: Developing your moral compass. MEDSURG Nursing, 25(3), 201–205.
Ulrich, C. M., & Grady, C. (2018). Moral distress and moral courage in nurses: Implications for ethical practice. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 50(5), 502–510. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12425
