Unit 5 (Ethics and Accountability) Flashcards

What are ethics?

Represent the standards of right and wrong established by a community or social setting.

What are morals?

Personal beliefs that guide behavior based on what is considered good or bad, often influenced by culture, society, and personal experiences.

Your _ influences your _.

morals , ethics

What is an ethical dilemma? 

A situation where a person faces a conflict between two or more moral principles, and no matter what choice is made, some ethical principle will be compromised. 

What is integrity? 

Doing the right thing when no one is watching, being honest. 

What are values? 

Beliefs about the worth of something. Acts as a judgement to guide behavior. 

What develops an individual's personal values? 

Life experience, family, and culture. 

What are professional values? 

Provide the foundation for nursing practice and guide the nurse’s interactions with patients, colleagues, and the public. Altruism, avocation, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, and social justice. 

What is altruism? 

Concern for well-being of others. 

What is avocation?

Refers to the act or process of pleading for, supporting, or recommending a cause or course of action on behalf of patients, healthcare consumers, or communities.

What is autonomy? 

The patients right to their own body and what happens to them. 

What is human dignity? 

Emphasizes the inherent worth and uniqueness of every individual. 

What is social justice? 

Providing equal care/treatment. 

__ may directly influence the problem the patient is experiencing.  

Client values 

How can you help a patient determine their values? 

Help the patient explore actions and those consequences. This lets them freely choose and remain consistent with those choices.  

What does the ANA (American Nurse Association) do? 

Provides a guideline for ethical conduct and decision making. Also serves as a guide for nurses in their professional behaviors and relationships. 

Nurses are held to principles within the __. 

ANA

What does beneficence mean?

The ethical principle that involves acting in the best interest of patients, promoting their well-being, and preventing harm.

What does nonmaleficence mean?

The ethical principle that emphasizes the obligation of healthcare professionals to avoid causing harm to patients.

What does justice mean? 

The ethical obligation to treat all patients with fairness and impartiality. 

What does veracity mean? 

The ethical principle of truthfulness and honesty in all aspects of patient care.   

What does fidelity mean? 

The commitment to remain true to professional promises and duties, ensuring high-quality, competent, and safe patient care. 

What is moral indifference? 

Occurs when an individual questions why morality in practice is even necessary. 

What is moral uncertainty/conflict? 

Occurs when an individual is unsure which moral principles or values apply and perhaps even what the moral problem is. 

What is moral distress? 

Occurs when the individual knows the right thing to do, but organizational constraints make it difficult to take the right course of action. 

What is moral outrage? 

Occurs when a person witnesses the immoral act of another but feels powerless to stop it. 

What is the utilitarian (teleologic) framework? 

Decisions are made with the goal of providing the greatest good for the greatest number of people. 

What is the rights based (deontologic) framework?  

Individuals have basic inherent rights that should not be interfered with during decision making 

What is the duty-based (deontologic) framework? 

Decisions are made because one has a duty to do something or to refrain from doing something. 

What is the intuitionist (deontologic) framework? 

Issues are weighed on a case-by-case basis to determine relative goals, duties, and rights. 

What is paternalism? 

An action that limits a person's or group's liberty or autonomy against their will and is intended to promote their own good. 

What does deontologic mean? 

The inherent rightfulness of actions is considered more important than their consequences. 

What does teleologic mean? 

Makes decisions based on the action and consequence prioritizing the action with the least consequences or severity of consequence. 

What is included in the right to an informed consent?

An understanding of the procedure and its benefits and risks. The patient also has a right to accept or refuse treatment.

What organizations guide nurses and help maintain ethical and legal competencies?

State Nurse Practice Act, ANA Code of Ethics, and Standards of Practice (internal and external)

What is accountability?

To be answerable to oneself and others for one’s own actions.

What is professional competence?

A combination of skills, knowledge, attitudes, values, and abilities that bring about effective or high performance in occupational and professional positions. 

What are the areas of competence?

Health and wellness promotion, illness prevention, health restoration, and caring for the dying. 

What does the NC Board of Nursing require of nurses to maintain competencies?

Completing a self-assessment of practice, developing a plan for continued learning, and selecting and implementing a learning activity option from those outlined by the Board.