DNP 840 Topic 8 DQ 1: ethics and business practice
Three of the four questions have consensus answers. The fourth — whether a nurse has standing to intervene in business decisions — is genuinely contested, and it is where the post should live.
Editorial process
Last reviewed · August 15, 2026
Four questions, and the last one is contestable
The prompt stacks four questions and they are not equally hard. That ethical behaviour is integral, that the DNP is regarded as a role model, and that role modelling shows in observable behaviour are close to consensus, so handle them efficiently and precisely: role modelling is displayed in what someone does when it costs them, which is why it cannot be claimed and can only be attributed. Consistency under pressure, saying what you do not know, raising the awkward thing in the meeting rather than the corridor afterwards — those are observable, and they are the answer to the third question. Do not spend the post on them. Length signals where you think the difficulty is, and weighting all four equally says you did not notice that three are settled and one is not. Role-model status is conferred rather than claimed, so the second question is about the position rather than the person.
The fourth question is the one worth arguing, and it has two distinct halves the prompt helpfully separates. Legitimate right is about standing: a DNP has standing where a business decision determines clinical outcomes, which covers staffing, skill mix, service closure, supply substitution and capital allocation — because those are clinical decisions being made in financial language, and the profession's accountability for patient outcomes does not stop at the boundary of who made the call. Ethical foundation is about obligation, and here the professional code is stronger than most people expect: advocacy for patients is a duty rather than a permission, which makes silence in the face of a harmful business decision a failure rather than discretion. The honest limit is competence — standing on the clinical consequences of a financial decision is not standing on the financing itself, and a DNP who argues capital structure is spending credibility they will need for the staffing argument. Say where you draw that line.
Likely learning objectives
Inferred from the brief — check these against your own rubric.
- 01Describe role modelling as attributed rather than claimed.
- 02Distinguish a right to speak from an obligation to speak.
- 03Identify where business decisions are clinical decisions in another language.
- 04Locate the competence boundary on professional standing.
Read the full question
Review every instruction before using the planning guidance that follows.
Course-wide instructions that accompany this question
Important information for writing discussion questions and participation Hi Class, Please read through the following information on writing a Discussion question response and participation posts. Contact me if you have any questions. Important information on Writing a Discussion Question Your response needs to be a minimum of 150 words (not including your list of references) There needs to be at least TWO references with ONE being a peer reviewed professional journal article. Include in-text citations in your response Do not include quotes—instead summarize and paraphrase the information Follow APA-7th edition Points will be deducted if the above is not followed Participation –replies to your classmates or instructor A minimum of 6 responses per week, on at least 3 days of the week. Each response needs at least ONE reference with citations—best if it is a peer reviewed journal article Each response needs to be at least 75 words in length (does not include your list of references) Responses need to be substantive by bringing information to the discussion or further enhance the discussion. Responses of “I agree” or “great post” does not count for the word count. Follow APA 7th edition Points will be deducted if the above is not followed Remember to use and follow APA-7th edition for all weekly assignments, discussion questions, and participation points. Here are some helpful links Student paper example Citing Sources The Writing Center is a great resource Welcome to class Hello class and welcome to the class and I will be your instructor for this course. This is a -week course and requires a lot of time commitment, organization, and a high level of dedication. Please use the class syllabus to guide you through all the assignments required for the course. I have also attached the classroom policies to this announcement to know your expectations for this course. Please review this document carefully and ask me any questions if you do. You could email me at any time or send me a message via the “message” icon in halo if you need to contact me. I check my email regularly, so you should get a response within 24 hours. If you have not heard from me within 24 hours and need to contact me urgently, please send a follow up text to. I strongly encourage that you do not wait until the very last minute to complete your assignments. Your assignments in weeks 4 and 5 require early planning as you would need to present a teaching plan and interview a community health provider. I advise you look at the requirements for these assignments at the beginning of the course and plan accordingly. I have posted the YouTube link that explains all the class assignments in detail. 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A minimum of TWO references should be used for your initial post. For your response post, you do not need references as personal experiences would count as response posts. If you however cite anything from the literature for your response post, it is required that you cite your reference. You should include a minimum of THREE references for papers in this course. Please note that references should be no more than 5 years old except recommended as a resource for the class. Furthermore, for each discussion board question, you need ONE initial substantive response and TWO substantive responses to either your classmates or your instructor for a total of THREE responses. There are TWO discussion questions each week, hence, you need a total minimum of SIX discussion posts for each week. I usually post a discussion question each week. You could also respond to these as it would count towards your required SIX discussion posts for the week. DNP 840 Topic 8 DQ 1 How is ethical behavior an integral part of the doctorally prepared advanced practice nurse’s role I understand this is a lot of information to cover in 5 weeks, however, the Bible says in Philippians 4:13 that we can do all things through Christ that strengthens us. Even in times like this, we are encouraged by God’s word that we have that ability in us to succeed with His strength. I pray that each and every one of you receives strength for this course and life generally as we navigate through this pandemic that is shaking our world today. Relax and enjoy the course! Name: Discussion Rubric Grid View List View Excellent 90–100 Good 80–89 Fair 70–79 Poor 0–69 Main Posting: Response to the Discussion question is reflective with critical analysis and synthesis representative of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module and current credible sources. 40 (40%) – 44 (44%) Thoroughly responds to the Discussion question(s). Is reflective with critical analysis and synthesis representative of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module and current credible sources. No less than 75% of post has exceptional depth and breadth. Supported by at least three current credible sources. 35 (35%) – 39 (39%) Responds to most of the Discussion question(s). Is somewhat reflective with critical analysis and synthesis representative of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. 50% of the post has exceptional depth and breadth. Supported by at least three credible references. 31 (31%) – 34 (34%) Responds to some of the Discussion question(s). One to two criteria are not addressed or are superficially addressed. Is somewhat lacking reflection and critical analysis and synthesis. Somewhat represents knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. Cited with fewer than two credible references. 0 (0%) – 30 (30%) Does not respond to the Discussion question(s). Lacks depth or superficially addresses criteria. Lacks reflection and critical analysis and synthesis. Does not represent knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. Contains only one or no credible references. Main Posting: Writing 6 (6%) – 6 (6%) Written clearly and concisely. Contains no grammatical or spelling errors. Adheres to current APA manual writing rules and style. 5 (5%) – 5 (5%) Written concisely. May contain one to two grammatical or spelling errors. Adheres to current APA manual writing rules and style. 4 (4%) – 4 (4%) Written somewhat concisely. May contain more than two spelling or grammatical errors. Contains some APA formatting errors. 0 (0%) – 3 (3%) Not written clearly or concisely. Contains more than two spelling or grammatical errors. Does not adhere to current APA manual writing rules and style. Main Posting: Timely and full participation 9 (9%) – 10 (10%) Meets requirements for timely, full, and active participation. Posts main Discussion by due date. 8 (8%) – 8 (8%) Meets requirements for full participation. Posts main Discussion by due date. 7 (7%) – 7 (7%) Posts main Discussion by due date. 0 (0%) – 6 (6%) Does not meet requirements for full participation. Does not post main Discussion by due date. First Response: Post to colleague’s main post that is reflective and justified with credible sources. 9 (9%) – 9 (9%) Response exhibits critical thinking and application to practice settings. Responds to questions posed by faculty. The use of scholarly sources to support ideas demonstrates synthesis and understanding of learning objectives. 8 (8%) – 8 (8%) Response has some depth and may exhibit critical thinking or application to practice setting. 7 (7%) – 7 (7%) Response is on topic and may have some depth. 0 (0%) – 6 (6%) Response may not be on topic and lacks depth. First Response: Writing 6 (6%) – 6 (6%) Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. Response to faculty questions are fully answered, if posed. Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by two or more credible sources. Response is effectively written in standard, edited English. 5 (5%) – 5 (5%) Communication is mostly professional and respectful to colleagues. Response to faculty questions are mostly answered, if posed. Provides opinions and ideas that are supported by few credible sources. Response is written in standard, edited English. 4 (4%) – 4 (4%) Response posed in the Discussion may lack effective professional communication. Response to faculty questions are somewhat answered, if posed. Few or no credible sources are cited. 0 (0%) – 3 (3%) Responses posted in the Discussion lack effective communication. Response to faculty questions are missing. No credible sources are cited. First Response: Timely and full participation 5 (5%) – 5 (5%) Meets requirements for timely, full, and active participation. Posts by due date. 4 (4%) – 4 (4%) Meets requirements for full participation. Posts by due date. 3 (3%) – 3 (3%) Posts by due date. 0 (0%) – 2 (2%) Does not meet requirements for full participation. Does not post by due date. Second Response: Post to colleague’s main post that is reflective and justified with credible sources. 9 (9%) – 9 (9%) Response exhibits critical thinking and application to practice settings. Responds to questions posed by faculty. The use of scholarly sources to support ideas demonstrates synthesis and understanding of learning objectives. 8 (8%) – 8 (8%) Response has some depth and may exhibit critical thinking or application to practice setting. 7 (7%) – 7 (7%) Response is on topic and may have some depth. 0 (0%) – 6 (6%) Response may not be on topic and lacks depth. Second Response: Writing 6 (6%) – 6 (6%) Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. Response to faculty questions are fully answered, if posed. Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by two or more credible sources. Response is effectively written in standard, edited English. 5 (5%) – 5 (5%) Communication is mostly professional and respectful to colleagues. Response to faculty questions are mostly answered, if posed. Provides opinions and ideas that are supported by few credible sources. Response is written in standard, edited English. 4 (4%) – 4 (4%) Response posed in the Discussion may lack effective professional communication. Response to faculty questions are somewhat answered, if posed. Few or no credible sources are cited. 0 (0%) – 3 (3%) Responses posted in the Discussion lack effective communication. Response to faculty questions are missing. No credible sources are cited. Second Response: Timely and full participation 5 (5%) – 5 (5%) Meets requirements for timely, full, and active participation. Posts by due date. 4 (4%) – 4 (4%) Meets requirements for full participation. Posts by due date. 3 (3%) – 3 (3%) Posts by due date. 0 (0%) – 2 (2%) Does not meet requirements for full participation. Does not post by due date. Total Points: 100 Name: Discussion Rubric
Turn the brief into deliverables
- 01Observable behaviours constituting role modelling.
- 02An argument for standing based on clinical consequence.
- 03The professional-code basis for an obligation to advocate.
- 04A stated limit where competence runs out.
Ethics, role modelling, then the business question
Ethics in the role
Establish why ethical conduct is integral rather than additional.
Role modelling as behaviour
Describe what displaying it actually looks like.
The right to intervene
Argue standing on business decisions with clinical consequences.
The obligation, and its limit
Ground the duty in the code and mark where competence ends.
Where the professional obligation is written down
Recommended databases
- ANA Code of Ethics
- PubMed Central
- CINAHL
- Your organisation's decision-making structures
Search sequence
- 1.Read the code's advocacy provisions and note whether they are permissive or obligatory.
- 2.Find evidence linking a business decision to a clinical outcome.
- 3.Look for accounts of clinicians intervening in organisational decisions.
- 4.Identify which decisions in your organisation have no clinical voice in the room.
Reference shortlist
These are authoritative starting points, not a ready-made bibliography. A qualified reviewer must confirm that each source fits the assignment and supports the claim beside which it is cited.
Nothing here is cleared for citation until you have read it.
- 01
Ethics and Human Rights in Nursing
American Nurses Association · 2025
The professional code, which is where advocacy is stated as a duty rather than an option.
- 02
Nurse staffing, burnout, and health care-associated infection
American Journal of Infection Control, 40(6), 486-490 · 2012
Links a staffing decision to an infection outcome, which is the clearest case of a business decision being a clinical one.
- 03
Does governance matter? Board configuration and performance in not-for-profit hospitals
The Milbank Quarterly · 2006
On governance and hospital performance, which is where organisational decisions and outcomes meet formally.
- 04
The effect of servant leadership on medical staff unethical pro-organizational behavior: the role of work meaning and power distance
BMC Nursing · 2025
On leadership behaviour and unethical pro-organisational conduct, which is the failure mode when organisational loyalty overrides professional obligation.
Review before submission
Common mistakes
- Answering all four questions at the same shallow depth.
- Claiming role-model status rather than describing behaviour.
- Asserting a right to intervene with no basis given.
- Claiming standing on financial questions beyond clinical consequence.
Submission checklist
- Is most of your length on the fourth question?
- Have you distinguished right from obligation?
- Is the standing argument tied to clinical consequence?
- Did you say where the boundary is?
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