Real-Life Decision Making
You are a forensic nurse in a correctional facility for women. All inmates
have been convicted and sentenced to incarceration for various crimes. One
of your duties in the facility is to administer medication to the inmates
when prescribed by a doctor.
You have made friends with Betsy, a young woman who is serving a sentence
because she drove her car after drinking alcohol and caused a car accident.
Since Betsy was admitted, you have taken a special interest in her.
Betsy often comes to chat with you when you are not busy. She sometimes
tells you personal things that she won't say to other people. The two of you
have become quite close, and you are certain that you are helping Betsy by
being her friend.
Betsy has a long history of alcohol and drug abuse, but she is taking counseling
to deal with her addictions. She also has ongoing pain caused by a medical
condition. Her physician has left a standing order that Betsy can have pain
medication when the pain is bad.
However, at a team meeting, your colleagues have agreed that Betsy is sometimes
faking pain so she can get the painkillers. The doctor warned everyone that
Betsy might be addicted to the painkillers, and that Betsy should only get
the pills if she seems to be sincerely in pain.
"Probably no more than one every eight hours," he says.
During your evening shift, Betsy comes to you twice for painkillers.
The first time you give them to her. She seems sincere. Three hours later,
she comes back again and asks for more.
"I still hurt," she says. "Please help me. I really need the pills."
What do you do?