Educational Programs and Ethics Resources

More information

Overview:  

This 9-month program was initiated as a pilot in September 2021 as an opportunity for nurses to address moral distress. Inadequately addressed ethical concerns may result in feelings of moral distress.  Moral distress (MD) is an emotional and psychological response to morally challenging dilemmas that are not addressed to the nurse’s satisfaction.  Opportunities to discuss ethically challenging situations may lessen MD and its associated sequela.  Additionally, ethics is the responsibility of all, and those who are at the front lines of health care need to feel able to speak up and explore concerns of an ethical nature.

Participants:  

Experienced staff who meet the criteria noted are invited to participate in this program.  This program may provide an opportunity for those who are planning to stay in patient care settings for a few years and are looking to expand and improve their practice and provide support to peers.

It is an ideal program for anyone who:

1. Has an interest in ethics and ethical reasoning.
2. Confident in their ability to have a professional conversation about difficult situations.
3. Open minded and willing to consider other points of view.
4. Willing to be the go-to person on their service for ethical concerns and consult the Ethics team as indicated for help and support.
5. Has the flexibility in their schedule to attend the liaison meetings, as well as several Hospital Ethics Committee meetings and other ethics-related educational offerings at URMC over the course of the program. 

Expectations of Participants: 

Attend half-day sessions monthly during the academic year (September through May).  Time will be spent at each session talking about current ethical concerns.  Attending Hospital Ethics Committee meetings,  Schwartz Rounds and other ethics-content related talks will be encouraged in order to understand and contribute to the broad nature of Ethics work at URMC.  Finally, the liaisons will develop a project related to a perceived need on their unit or service.

Ethics Liaison Program Application

For information regarding the ethics liaison program, please call the Department of Health Humanities and Bioethics at (585) 275-5800.

The Clinical Ethics Program in the Department of Health Humanities and Bioethics at the University of Rochester Medical Center invites applications for a part-time Clinical Ethics Consultation Fellowship designed for healthcare clinical faculty and allied health professionals seeking advanced training and knowledge in clinical ethics consultation.

This fellowship is intended for professionals who wish to strengthen their knowledge and practical skills in clinical ethics consultation while maintaining ongoing clinical or professional responsibilities.

Grounded in the University of Rochester's biopsychosocial model and enriched by the health humanities, the fellowship emphasizes close observation, close listening, close reading, critical reflection, and thoughtful ethical analysis. Fellows are trained in what we regard as the twin virtues of clinical ethics practice: curiosity and humility.

The fellowship builds upon the University of Rochester's longstanding tradition in clinical ethics education and consultation and is structured around competency development in healthcare ethics consultation consistent with standards articulated by national professional organizations, including the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities (ASBH).

Additional Information

The Clinical Ethics Consult Service offers case discussion rounds on a regular basis in the NICU, PICU, Adult Intensive Care Units, Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Transplant and Oncology Units. For information regarding these rounds, please call the Department of Health Humanities and Bioethics at (585) 275-5800.