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Definitions of Ethics
The word ethics has Greek roots:
• Ta ethika, referring to philosophical inquiry into
good and evil
• Ethos, meaning personal character
(Burns, 2012)
Definitions of Ethics
A Code of Ethics is an attempt to define basic
rules, or principles for determining what
constitutes "good" or "right" behavior.
Factors Influencing Moral Decisions
- Ability to make decisions develops over the - Right to make one’s own decisions
lifespan
- Inward autonomy if individuals have the ability
Values to make choices
- Outward autonomy if choices are not limited or
- Enduring beliefs or attitudes about the worth of imposed by others
a person, object, idea, or action
2. Nonmaleficence
- May be unspoken or even subconscious
- Duty to do no harm
- Underlie all moral dilemmas
- Harm may intentional or nonintentional
- Influence decisions and actions including
nurses’ ethical decision making 3. Beneficence: Doing good
4. Justice: Fairness
Something to ponder
Common Ethical Issues
Write your answer in a 1 whole yellow paper
Question 1 3. Beneficence.
When an ethical issue arises, one of the 4. Justice.
most important nursing responsibilities in
Question 4
managing client care situations is which of the
following? Which of the following statements by the
nurse would be most helpful when a nurse is
1. Be able to defend the morality of one’s
assisting clients in clarifying their values?
own actions.
1. “That was not a good decision. Why did
2. Remain neutral and detached when
you think it would work?”
making ethical decisions.
2. “The most important thing is to follow the
3. Ensure that a team is responsible for
plan of care. Did you follow all your
deciding ethical questions.
doctor’s orders?”
4. Follow the client and family wishes
3. “Some people might have made a
exactly.
different decision. What led you to make
Question 2 your decision?”
Which of the following situations is most 4. “If you had asked me, I would have given
clearly a violation of the underlying principles you my opinion about what to do. Now
associated with professional nursing ethics? how do you feel about your choice?”
1. The hospital policy permits use of internal Question 5
fetal monitoring during labor. However,
After recovering from her hip replacement,
there is literature to both support and
an elderly client wants to go home. The family
refute the value of this practice.
wants the client to go to a nursing home. If the
2. When asked about the purpose of a nurse is acting as a client advocate, the nurse
medication, a nurse colleague responds, would perform the following:
“Oh, I never look them up. I just give what
Informs the family that the client has a right to
is prescribed orders.”
decide on her own.
3. The nurses on the unit agree to sponsor a
Ask the primary care provider to discharge the
fund-raising event to support a labor strike
client to home.
proposed by fellow nurses at another
facility. Suggest the client hire a lawyer to protect her
rights.
4. A client reports that he didn’t quite tell the
doctor the truth when asked if he was Help the client and family communicate their
following his therapeutic diet at home. views to each other.
Question 3
Following a motor vehicle crash, the
parents refuse to permit withdrawal of life support
from the child with no apparent brain function.
Although the nurse believes the child should be
allowed to die and organ donation considered,
the nurse supports their decision. Which moral
principle provides the best basis for the nurse’s
actions?
1. Respect for autonomy.
2. Nonmaleficence.
CONFIDENTIALITY • There are also issues of confidentiality for
the ethics committee itself.
• The concept of confidentiality urges you to
Confidentiality in Documentation
keep a secret
Documentation of data from health • By which we mean knowledge or
assessment information that a person has the right or
The client record is a legal document obligation to conceal.
Confidentiality means that information
sharing • The professional obligation to keep a
secret arises from the fact that harm will
An Issue in ethics almost certainly follow if the information is
revealed.
Individuals shall protect the confidentiality
Ethics in Nursing
1. Virtue Ethics
2. Natural Law Theory
3. Deontology
4. Utilitarian
5. Ethic of Care
6. Ethical Principlism
Composed of:
- Nonmaleficence
- Autonomy
- Justice
- Maleficence
7. Bioethics
Approached to Ethics
1. Normative Ethics: Norms
2. Descriptive Ethics: What the society dictates
3. Metaethics: Logical/Scientific