Structured Learning Experience 2: Introduction to HEALTHCARE ETHICS

Topic: Understanding LOGIC ETHICAL ARGUMENT

What generalizations do you think can be picked up from the logic trees and be
developed into critical thinking processes?

Logic trees are very important for us to be able to see different factors that could
contribute to a certain problem; it also serves as a guide that helps us identify the different
possible problems that we may encounter when finding a solution to a dilemma. They allow us
to break down possible solutions into parts where those parts can lead to other possibilities.
This can be used into the critical thinking process for us to be able to think logically on how to
approach situations.

How can we translate these logic trees into our daily activities leading to the nursing
profession?

Logic trees can help nurses make sound clinical decisions, nursing diagnoses as well as
choosing the right intervention that could be done in certain situations. In the logic tree that I
have created, I was able to look into the different factors that affect the high obesity rates of
children in America. It’s clear that one of the most important nursing interventions for nurses
to implement is to provide health education to parents as well as children with regards to
promoting healthy dietary intake and the increase of physical activities. Because of the logic
tree, we are able to identify the specific reasons that contribute to the high obesity rates of
children in America thus we are able to provide individualized health teachings on the
promotion of health and prevention of illnesses.
Structured Learning Experience 3: Introduction to HEALTHCARE ETHICS

Topic: Understanding THINKING

VISION
To provide quality and effective care, with the skills, touch and heart of a nurse, to my future
clients by always acting in beneficence and non-maleficence.

MISSION
To always strive to be the best version of myself in my relationships, duties, and education. I
will always practice my autonomy and make sound decisions for the benefit of my clients.

How can we translate these VISION and MISSIONS into our daily activities leading to the
nursing profession?

My mission has two things: 1.) Being the best version of myself and 2.) Practicing my
autonomy. I believe that it is important to first be able to believe that you can do certain things
for you to be able to do them. I’ve also added that it is important for me to be the version of
myself in my ​relationships​ to establish better nurse-client relationships, ​duties ​to provide the
best care, and ​education ​to continuously gain more knowledge in this lifelong journey and to
be able to apply what I’ve learned in the nursing profession. On the other hand, as nurses, we go
through 4 years of education and along the way, we learn how to be confident in doing tasks
according to our patient’s needs. I believe that if you’re confident because you’ve learned
enough, you’ll be able to successfully practice your autonomy more in the clinical setting and
make independent decisions that are best for our patients.

My mission states the importance of being the best version of myself to always be able to
provide effective and quality care; the importance of duty, education and relationships were
also emphasized and were steps to achieve my vision. My vision centralizes the idea that as a
future registered nurse, it would be my duty to not only provide interventions that could only
help a client physically but rather, holistically. I’ve learned that a touch of a nurse is always
different compared to a doctor’s touch because it has that delicate and caring touch that could
do more than just treat a person. I believe that having the opportunity to have ethics as a
nursing course, will be able to help me in the workfield. I’ve integrated two of the most
important ethical principles in my vision because those are two of the most important things
that nurses should practice. It is an important reminder to always act in beneficence by always
working on the best solution to a problem encountered. It is also important to always weigh the
different possibilities and make sure that as nurses, what type of care we’ll provide will be
what’s best for our patients. Non-maleficence is also important for nurses to practice, ensuring
that the decisions that we’ll act upon will be for the best interest of the patient that’s free of
harm and danger; we should always provide careful and meticulous care and avoid negligence.
Structured Learning Experience 4-b: Introduction to LOGIC

Topic: Understanding DEDUCTIVE argument versus INDUCTIVE argument

EXERCISE ACTIVITY 1:

INSTRUCTION: Determine if the argument is DEDUCTIVE or INDUCTIVE and explain why

your answer was such.

1. Either John Adams or George Washington was the first president of the United States.
John Adams was not the first president. Therefore, George Washington was the first
president.

Deductive reasoning.
That statement implies that either John Adams and George Washington could have
possibly been the first president of the US. The statement only presented two choices.
The next premise states that John Adams wasn’t the first president. Since, the first
premise only presents two choices, then it is true that George Washington was indeed
the first president. The premises were offered as guaranteeing the conclusion’s truth.

2. Mary has lobar pneumonia. Antibiotics are usually given to patients with lobar
pneumonia. Therefore, Mary should be given an antibiotic.

Inductive reasoning.
The statement says that Mary has lobar pneumonia and that antibiotics are
usually ​given to patients who have that condition. The term ​usually​ is not universal and
can not be applied to every patient. It is not guaranteed that Mary should be given
an antibiotic.

3. The largest city is generally the capital of a country. Manila is the largest city in the
Philippines. Therefore, Manila is the capital of the Philippines.

Inductive reasoning.
It was stated that ​generally ​the capital of a country would be the largest city. The
conclusion stated that Manila is the capital of the Philippines because it’s the larges
city. However, the term ​generally ​means that it is not applicable to all and could be
different in other countries.

4. All nurses are women. Kimberly is a nurse. Therefore, Kimberly is a woman.

Deductive reasoning.
The first premise used ​all ​and it is considered as a universal term which means that it is
applicable to everyone. This means that the statement is deductively valid because the
premises are aligned with the conclusion.
 5. Ninety-six percent of nurses are women. Tiffiny is a nurse. Therefore, Tiffiny is probably
a woman.

Deductive reasoning.
The first premise states that 96 percent of nurses were women thus it is a particular
premise. The conclusion is deductively valid because it also arrived at a particular
conclusion referring to Tiffany ​probably ​(particular term) being a woman because she
was a nurse.

6. Nora is a premature infant who weighs 1 pound. Nora has myelomeningocele with
mental retardation. Nora cannot suck. Infants with such anomalies usually die within 2
weeks. Therefore Nora will die within the next 2 weeks.

Inductive reasoning.
Nora has anomalies which one of the premises stated that it could lead to death within a
fortnight. However, it mentioned that infants with such anomalies ​usually (​ a particular
term) die within 2 weeks. The conclusion assumes that Nora will die within that span of
time which makes it inductive because it is not fully guaranteed that what happened to
the other infants will also happen to Nora.

7. Tony is a prisoner performing hard labor. Therefore, Tony is a criminal.

Deductive reasoning.
The statement refers to Tony being a prisoner who’s performing hard labor and it came
to a conclusion that Tony is a criminal. The premise was general and it was able to arrive
at a specific conclusion.

8. Nick was at the scene of the crime. His fingerprints were on the gun. Therefore, Nick
must have committed the crime.

Inductive reasoning.
The first premise stated that Nick was at the scene of the crime and his fingerprints were
seen on the gun. This is inductive because it is true that Nick must have committed the
crime because of the presented pieces of evidence however, the conclusion only just
stated the possibility of Nick being the criminal but not the one who ​really c​ ommitted
the crime despite the previous premises.

9. Mary is wobbling around. Mary is attending a cocktail party. Therefore, she drank too
much.

Inductive reasoning.
The conclusion is false because it wasn’t stated that Mary drank at the cocktail party.
The
 two premises wouldn’t guarantee that Mary drank too much. For this reason, the
statement is inductive.

10. All carcinogens cause cancer in animals. Therefore, compounds that cause cancer in
animals are also potential human carcinogens.

Deductive reasoning.
The first premise stated that carcinogens cause cancer in animals. The conclusion is true
and states that compounds that cause cancer in animals are also potential human
carcinogens since humans are also considered as terrestrial animals. For this reason, the
the statement is deductive.

11. All street brokers are customarily members of the New York Stock Exchange. O’Leary is
a Wall Street broker. Therefore, O’Leary is a member of the New York Street Exchange.

Deductive reasoning.
The first premise is universal (which means that it applies to all) while the second
premise was able to specify what O’Leary is, which is a wall street broker. This is
deductive because the premises were offered as guaranteeing the conclusion’s truth
which states that O’Leary is a member of the New York Street Exchange because he is a
street broker.

12. (1) Ada, Betty and Clara are staff nurse, head nurse and supervisor, though not
necessarily in that order. (2) Ada was beaten by the head nurse in a bridge game. (3)
Betty is the supervisor’s neighbor and (4) she was unbeatable at bridge, having played
the other nurses. (5) Clara was to become a head nurse or supervisor. Match up the
nurses with their positions and explain why you came to that conclusion.

Betty-Head Nurse
Clara-Staff Nurse
Ada- Supervisor

Ada was said to be beaten by the head nurse in a bridge game and it was stated that
Betty is unbeatable at bridge which makes Ada either a supervisor or a head nurse. Betty
is said to be the supervisor’s neighbor which makes Ada or Clara the supervisor.
However, it was later said that Clara was yet to become either a head nurse or the
supervisor which crosses Clara as a potential supervisor thus making ​Ada the
supervisor​ and making​ Clara the staff nurse​. It was stated a while ago that Ada was
beaten by the head nurse and that Betty was unbeatable at the same game. This led me
to arrive at a conclusion that ​Betty is the head nurse​.
 13. Green has chest pain, a cough, sputum, elevated temperature, and questionable chest
x-ray. These symptoms are typical of pneumonia. Therefore, Green has pneumonia.

Inductive reasoning.
The first premise showcased different symptoms on the other hand, it was stated in the
second premise that they were typical symptoms of pneumonia. However, the
conclusion
stated that Green has pneumonia despite there being chances that the symptoms could
indicate diseases other than pneumonia.

14. Ninety-three percent of a random sample of newborns weighs more than 5.5 pounds.
Baby Jones is a (full-term) newborn Filipino. Therefore, Jones weighs more than 5.5
pounds.

Inductive reasoning.
The first premise indicates that 93% of newborns weigh more than 5.5 pounds. The
second premise states that Jones is a newborn Filipino. This is inductive because Jones
may not be 5.5 pounds and may belong to the remaining 7%.

15. One in nine women gets breast cancer in her lifetime; and Jane, 45, is a woman.
Therefore, Jane has an 11% chance of getting breast cancer in her lifetime.

Deductive reasoning.
1 in 9 women were said to get breast cancer in their lifetime. This is deductive because
Jane could indeed have an 11% chance of getting it. The premises were offered as
guaranteeing the conclusion’s truth.
 What are the criteria that an argument/reasoning is said to be deductive or
inductive?

It is important to first take into consideration the premises. If the premises

establish the truth of the conclusion then the argument will be considered as ​deductive.
On the other hand, if the premises provide only good reasons to believe that the
conclusion could ​possibly b​ e true then the argument will be considered as ​inductive.
Deductive arguments are mainly meant to ​prove ​a conclusion while inductive
arguments
are meant to ​predict ​a conclusion.

What generalizations do you think can be picked up from these two types of
arguments/reasoning?

These two types of arguments are very important in the process of being able to
arrive at a sound conclusion. It also helps us to properly evaluate arguments and we’ll be
able to pinpoint whether they are valid or not.

How can we translate these two types of argument/reasoning in our daily

activities leading to the nursing profession?

In the nursing profession, we sometimes formulate different nursing diagnoses. I

believe that integrating our knowledge on deductive and inductive arguments would
help us create a more accurate and valid diagnosis. The knowledge on deductive and
inductive arguments could also help us evaluate diagnostic arguments where inductive
arguments may indicate ​that premises provide some evidence, but are not completely
informative with respect to the truth of the conclusion whereas deductive arguments
may indicate the supplication of complete evidence for the conclusion so that the
conclusion necessarily follows from the premise; this could completely help nurses in
clinical reasoning.