Ethics in Nursing Principles

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Questions and Answers

What is the main role of accountability in nursing practice?

To ensure nurses follow only administrative orders.

To allow nurses to perform any procedure without supervision.

To eliminate the need for professional training.

To clarify the boundaries of professional practice based on competence. (correct)

Which of the following best describes beneficence in nursing practice?

Providing care only when convenient for the nurse.

Actively promoting the well-being of patients. (correct)

Withholding information from patients to avoid distress.

Making decisions solely based on institutional policy.

What does fidelity in nursing refer to?

Bonding with patients at a personal level.

Strictly adhering to hospital rules, regardless of circumstances.

Always agreeing with a patient’s wishes.

The quality of being faithful to commitments and promises. (correct)

What are potential consequences of unaccountability in nursing practice?

Erosion of trust in nurse-patient relationships. Signup and view all the answers

How can accountability be demonstrated in nurse-patient relationships?

By providing truthful information and involving patients in their care decisions. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key benefit of nurses demonstrating accountability in their work?

Improved patient care outcomes Signup and view all the answers

How does accountability influence a nurse’s relationships with patients?

It establishes stronger, more trusting relationships. Signup and view all the answers

Which consequence is most likely associated with a lack of accountability in nursing?

Increased risks to patient safety. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of nursing, fidelity refers to which of the following?

Maintaining commitments to patients and professional standards. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of nursing practice is enhanced by accountability?

Higher overall job performance and effectiveness. Signup and view all the answers

What is a major consequence of nurses failing to be accountable in their practice?

Poor nurse-patient relationships Signup and view all the answers

How does beneficence in nursing practice relate to nurse accountability?

It ensures nurses prioritize patient welfare Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of nursing is directly affected by a lack of fidelity?

Nurse-patient relationships decline Signup and view all the answers

What can result from unaccountability in nursing practices?

Decreased trust from patients Signup and view all the answers

Why is accountability crucial in nursing?

It enables nurses to maintain a professional standard of care Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Principles of Ethics

The presentation concerns ethical principles in nursing.
Students will be able to:
- List goals of ethics education
- List fundamental principles of ethics
- Identify common challenges in applying ethical principles in nursing and how to overcome them.

Introduction

Ethical principles are interconnected and complementary.
Each principle should be considered within the context of other principles and relevant circumstances.
This complementarity aims for harmony.
Ethical reflections may be different and sometimes conflicting.
However, bioethics aims to assemble different viewpoints.

Goals of Ethics Education

Students should appreciate the ethical dimensions of patient care.
They should understand the ethical principles of the medical profession.
Nurses should have competence in core ethical behavioral skills:
- Obtaining informed consent
- Assessing decision-making capacity
- Discussing resuscitation status and use of life-sustaining treatments
- Advanced care planning
- Breaking bad news effectively
- Communicating effectively
Students should know commonly encountered ethical issues in general and within a specific specialty.

Accountability

Professional accountability in nursing is about being answerable to oneself and others for one's own actions.
Nurses are accountable for their actions when caring for patients.
Nurses must accept the personal and professional consequences of their actions.

Accountability in Nursing Practice

Accountability builds stronger nurse-patient relationships based on trust and reduces fear.
Accountable nurses show higher quality job performance benefiting patients, peers, organizations, and the profession.
Nurses who act with a high level of accountability are more likely to succeed and improve their chances for success.

Example of How Accountability is Applied in Nursing Practice

The scope of practice defines the care and services qualified health professionals perform and are permitted to accept.
Each state's constitution outlines a "Nurse Practice Act."
Regulatory bodies establish rules and regulations based on that Act.

Consequences of Lack of Accountability

Nurses must understand their role and perform within their scope of practice to prevent risks.
Failure to be accountable leads to poor nurse-patient relationships.
Nurses could face reprimands or lose their jobs, and in serious cases, lose their nursing license if patient harm occurs.

Beneficence

Beneficence is defined as charity (aid) and kindness demonstrated by actions benefiting others.
This ethical principle requires nurses to act with genuine care, concern, and generosity regarding the patient's welfare, keeping their best interests at heart regardless of the nurse's personal feelings.

Beneficence in Nursing Practice

Beneficence in nursing practice requires nurses to consider the individual circumstances of each patient, understanding that what is good for one patient might not be best for another.
Nurses should provide the best possible care while upholding patient's best interests and individual circumstances

Example of How Beneficence is Applied in Nursing Practice

Common beneficent acts include holding a patient's hand, offering support to family members during difficult times, ensuring patient privacy or assisting with goodbyes.

Consequences of Lack of Beneficence

Lack of beneficence can lead to increased risk to patient safety, such as medication errors, not using the most appropriate equipment or improper charting of vital information.
It can also lead to poor nurse-patient relationships, which can affect patient outcomes negatively.

Fidelity (Loyalty)

Fidelity is being faithful and keeping promises. It's demonstrated by offering support and loyalty.

Importance of Fidelity in Nursing Practice

Fidelity supports fulfilling professional commitments and being trustworthy.
It's associated with more positive patient outcomes, higher patient satisfaction scores, and more trusting relationships.

Example of How Fidelity is Applied in Nursing Practice

Fidelity involves meeting reasonable role expectations and professional obligations, such as following up on treatments or delegating tasks appropriately.

Consequences of Lack of Fidelity

Nurses may struggle with relationships, patient compliance and other patient care challenges when fidelity is compromised.
Failure in maintaining trust with patients, family or other healthcare workers can lead to poor patient outcomes.

Individual Responsibility and Autonomy

Nurses have overall responsibility for patient care.
Nurses need autonomy because they're not the doctor's servants and should be able to make decisions.

Importance of Autonomy in Nursing Practice

Autonomy enables nurses to strengthen their critical thinking and decision-making skills.
Nurses who practice with autonomy often have more confidence and freedom to provide care.

Example of How Autonomy is Applied in Nursing Practice

Any time a nurse acts independently to perform a patient care task within their scope of practice and knowledge is an example of autonomy.
Administering PRN (as-needed) medications, delegating tasks, checking vital signs is an examples of autonomy in practice

Consequences of Lack of Autonomy

Nurses who lack autonomy often experience higher rates of burnout.
The absence of autonomy can lead to depersonalized patient care, causing nurses to feel their knowledge and skills are underappreciated.

Non-maleficence

Non-maleficence is one of the important ethical principles in nursing.
It means to do no harm to others.

Importance of Non-maleficence in Nursing Practice

Non-maleficence is crucial in safe, effective, and quality patient care.
Ensuring that potential harm is minimized and that every effort is made to protect patient safety is paramount.

Example of How Non-maleficence is Applied in Nursing Practice

Examples of non-maleficence include, but are not limited to, withholding a medication when allergies are unclear, modifying treatment plans if patients experience adverse effects, or stopping a treatment if it's causing more harm than good.

Consequences of Lack of Non-maleficence

Lack of non-maleficence can increase the risks to patient safety.
It can result in serious medical errors and can lead to the loss of a job or nursing license.

Veracity (Truth)

Nurses need to be completely honest with their patients.
Veracity involves telling the truth despite patient distress.

Importance of Veracity in Nursing Practice

Veracity helps strengthen and bind nurse-patient relationships,
It's essential in developing treatment plans and achieving goals.

Example of How Veracity is Applied in Nursing Practice

Nurses should explain the doctor's assessment of the patient's condition respectfully, without providing false hope even when a patient is facing serious circumstances that are difficult.

Consequences of Lack of Veracity

Untrue or dishonest statements can cause problems in the patient-nurse relationship. Ineffective communication may arise and complicate patient care, as well as lead to poor patient outcomes due to distrust.

Justice

Justice means to be fair and impartial in nursing decisions.
Nurses must make fair and unbiased decisions regarding patient care without partiality based on their age, ethnicity, economic standing, religion, or sexual orientation.

Importance of Justice in Nursing Practice

Fairness and impartiality are vital components of justice, essential in achieving and maintaining equity and fairness.
This involves the application of moral rules, principles, and standards.

Example of Applying Justice in Nursing Practice

Justice in nursing practice means treating all patients fairly. This includes providing the same quality of care.

Consequences of Not Practicing Justice in Nursing Practice

Not prioritizing care can lead treatment delays for patients that require it,
Patients can feel rejected due to partiality shown toward one patient over another.

Informed consent includes educating the patient about risks, benefits, and alternatives.
Nurses are responsible for conveying this information to facilitate an autonomous decision-making process..

Truth-Telling

Truth-telling is a critical component of the nurse-patient relationship, building trust and ensuring the patient has autonomy in making decisions..
Patients should be disclosed their diagnosis and prognosis, but they also have the option to forgo that information.
The information given should be presented by physicians in a way that is understandable for the patient.

Privacy and Confidentiality

Privacy involves controlling one's personal information and health records.
Information should only be shared with authorized healthcare professionals.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality indicates that information given to a healthcare professional should be used only for its intended purpose and not disclosed without permission.

Lack of/Breaching Confidentiality and Privacy

A breach occurs when a client's personal health information is disclosed without consent to any other party.
This could involve sharing with non-healthcare team members, releasing records at an unauthorized request, or disclosing to family members without the patient's consent or approval.

Equality and Equity

Equality is the state of being equal in status, rights and opportunities for each person or group.
Equity creates fair and just opportunities for everyone to achieve the best possible health.
Nurses have a key role to play in reshaping health equity by expanding roles and participation in communities.

Non-discrimination and Non-stigmatization

Non-discrimination involves treating each patient the same irrespective of their characteristics.
Non-stigmatization implies avoiding negative labeling and developing empathy while advocating for relationships in treatment and recovery.

Respect for Cultural Diversity and Pluralism

Cultural diversity is the presence of different cultures in a society with diverse people, regardless of caste, creed, language, religion, or race living together.
Respecting cultural diversity means appreciating and valuing diverse cultures while recognizing cultural implications, and their roles in practice.

Challenges to Ethical Practice

Knowing where to draw the line between autonomy and beneficence and how to overcome that dilemma.
Deciding when to withhold or disclose information regarding a patient's diagnosis, status or treatment plan
Supporting patient autonomy while maintaining informed consent requirements
Keeping promises to patients and maintaining fidelity when circumstances change.
Balancing non-maleficence against a patient's right to privacy.

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Description

This quiz focuses on the ethical principles essential in nursing practice. Students will learn about the goals of ethics education, fundamental ethical principles, and the challenges faced in applying these principles in patient care. Enhance your understanding of bioethics and develop the necessary ethical behaviors in nursing.