Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Nursing Ethical Principles
Nursing Ethical Principles
Quiz#2
Autonomy:
Informed consent:
Advocacy:
Paternalism:
Beneficence:
(do good)
The act of doing good, preventing harm, removing evil/harm
o *Mrs. Pulito
Preventing harm
o Ask yourself: what instances might a nurse be compelled to prevent harm?
Maybe restraints with a patient- making sure there is no harm done
Remove evil/harm
Veracity:
(truth)
The practice of telling the truth
This is controversial at times
o Discussion: is there an acceptable situation for not telling the truth?
Veracity, confidentiality and privacy go hand in hand
Confidentiality requires information be kept private
o Limitations?
Mandatory reporting
Documents for court
Suicide risk
Non-maleficence:
(do no harm)
Related to beneficence (prevent harm/ do good)
Refrain from causing harm (do no harm) including:
o Harm that occurs during the performance of beneficial acts
Confidentiality:
Justice:
Fidelity:
faithfulness/promise keeping
o Nurses must faithfully
Uphold the professions code of ethics
Practice within established scope of practice (PA dept of state
website)
Practice competently
Keep promises to patients (Ill be back in 5 min)
Moral Dilemma:
a problem
Requires a choice between two equally unfavorable and mutually exclusive
options
i.e. it is morally right to preserve life however, many would agree that it is wrong
to prolong suffering
a moral dilemma occurs when solutions to a problem include conflicting moral
claims
Evidence indicates that an act is morally right and other evidence indicates that
the act is morally wrong, but no evidence is conclusive.
o Preserve life or end suffering in the Mrs. Pulito case- refer to week 3
One moral rule supports one course of action and another moral rule supports
another course of action, yet the two actions are mutually exclusive.
Moral Distress:
More likely to occur in highly stressful situations or when dealing with more
vulnerable patients.
o Factors:
Ethical and working climate in the facility
Relationships- especially with physicians and role expectations
Stressors resulting from nursing shortage
Results in psychosocial, physical and emotional consequences for
nurses
When it occurs it is unfavorable for nurses and patients and can
have a long-term impact.
Ex. Pennsylvania has no patient to nurse ratio. This causes
stress to nurse and patient-patients may even complain of
nurse or hospital for a long time
Ex. Patient doesnt want to come see Dr. for a cold and
ends up with pneumonia. Patient didnt want to come to
hospital because of friends treatment or what they hear
Moral Reckoning:
Accountability:
Nursing Code:
o
o
o
o
o