Ethical Principles in Nursing Practice

Ethical Principles in Nursing Practice

• Nonmaleficence: Duty to do no harm to patients, intentionally or unintentionally.
• Autonomy: Respecting patients' right to make their own healthcare decisions.
• Justice: Fair treatment, including equitable resource allocation (e.g., organ transplants).
• Fidelity: Keeping promises and commitments to patients.
• Veracity: Honesty and truthfulness with patients.
• Beneficence: Acting for the benefit of patients, protecting them, and removing harm.
• Confidentiality: Protecting patient information from unauthorized disclosure.
• Moral Outrage: Strong feeling of anger or indignation towards wrongdoing.

Patient Rights and Advocacy

• DNR Orders: Nurses must respect "Do Not Resuscitate" orders, even if family members disagree, as long as the patient made the decision with informed consent.
• Informed Consent: Patients have the right to withdraw from procedures at any time. Nurses must notify the provider if patients change their minds.
• Cultural Competency: Understanding and respecting diverse cultural perspectives.
• Refusal of Care: Patients have the right to refuse treatment, even knowing the risks.
• Self-Determination: Patients have the right to make independent decisions about their healthcare.

Leadership in Nursing

• Transformational Leadership: Empowering others to reach potential and create change.
• Democratic Leadership: Involves staff in decision-making processes.
• Authoritarian Leadership: Leaders make all decisions independently.
• Laissez-Faire Leadership: A hands-off style of leadership, allowing team members to make decisions independently.
• Informal Leadership: Influence and guidance comes from personal skills and expertise rather than a formal title.
• Emotional Intelligence: Important for resolving conflicts and managing stress.

Legal Aspects of Nursing Practice

• Nurse Licensure: Regulated by state boards to ensure standards are met.
• Nurse Practice Act: Defines nursing practice standards in each state.
• ANA Code of Ethics: Guides nurses' ethical principles and standards.

Patient Care Scenarios

• End-of-Life Care: Respecting patients' wishes regarding life-prolonging treatments.
• Managing Medical Errors: Reporting mistakes to improve safety.
• Handling Cultural Conflicts: Respecting cultural values and needs while providing care.
• Conflict in Nursing: Addressing differences between individuals and professional groups.

Critical Thinking and Decision-Making

• Clinical Judgment: Assessing situations and making sound decisions, especially about patient care priorities.
• Problem Solving: Gathering information and evaluating options to improve patient outcomes.
• Triaging Patients: Prioritizing patients based on urgency of needs.
• Risk Management: Identifying and minimizing inherent risks in patient care.
• Incident Reports: Documenting unexpected events in patient care.