Nursing Professionalism, Ethics, and Law Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards based on the introductory lecture covering nursing ethics, professional behavior, state and federal healthcare laws, torts, and client rights.

LPN / LVN

A Licensed Practical Nurse or Licensed Vocational Nurse who completes a one-year educational program, passes the NCLEX-PN, and performs basic nursing techniques under the supervision of an RN.

Ethics

The standard of right and wrong that influences human behavior.

Values

Personal beliefs about the truth and worth of thoughts, objects, or behaviors.

Morals

The standard of what is good or bad versus right or wrong.

Beliefs

An interpretation or conclusion that an individual believes to be true, which is often influenced by culture and society.

Altruism

The concern for the welfare and well-being of others.

Autonomy

The legal and ethical right to self-determination.

Human Dignity

The inherent worth and uniqueness of individuals.

Integrity

Acting in accordance with an appropriate code of ethics and accepted standards of practice.

Social Justice

The upholding of justice, representing what is fair on a social scale.

Beneficence

An ethical principle requiring that the actions a nurse takes promote good for the client.

Nonmaleficence

The nursing obligation to protect the patient and do no harm.

Justice

Fair treatment across all individuals.

Veracity

The ethical requirement of always telling the truth.

Fidelity

The ethical duty to fulfill obligations and commitments.

Nightingale Pledge

A foundational code of ethics originally created in 1910 that serves as a guide for nurses when practice conflicts or ethical disagreements arise.

Active Euthanasia

An end-of-life practice where a physician or healthcare provider assists in or administers medication to induce death at the patient's request.

MORAL Model

An acronym for ethical decision-making standing for: Massage the dilemma, Outline options, Resolve the dilemma, Act by applying option, and Look back and evaluate.

Common Law

Judicial law or precedent set by court cases.

Statutory Law

Rules enacted by legislative bodies or governments, such as Nurse Practice Acts.

Criminal Law

Laws dealing with felony or misdemeanor offenses that carry potential imprisonment, such as practicing nursing without a license or misuse of controlled substances.

Torts

Civil wrongful acts or omissions committed against a person or a person's property that usually result in financial compensation.

Quasi-intentional Torts

Actions that injure a person's reputation through false statements or accusations meeting specific legal criteria.

Intentional Torts

Deliberate acts of wrongful conduct against another individual or property.

Assault

An intentional threat toward another person that creates a fear of imminent, unwelcome contact, which can occur without actual physical touching.

Battery

The intentional offensive touching of someone without their consent.

False Imprisonment

Restraining a client without proper medical authorization.

Invasion of Privacy

Violating a person's legal right to be left alone and keeping personal health matters private.

Negligence

Conduct that deviates from what a reasonable person would do under normal circumstances.

Malpractice

Professional negligence that occurs when four elements are met: duty owed, breach of duty, foreseeability, and resulting client injury.

Good Samaritan Laws

Laws enacted in most states that protect healthcare professionals from liability when voluntarily rendering emergency aid within their scope of practice.

Informed Consent

A client's legal and ethical right to be educated on diagnosis, risks, benefits, and alternatives by a provider before granting permission for a procedure.

Advanced Directive

A legal document executed by an individual outlining their medical preferences to be used when they are no longer able to communicate.

Patient Self-Determination Act

A federal law requiring health institutions to inquire if a client has an advance directive, offer educational information, and document its presence in the record.

Living Will

A specific legal document containing precise instructions regarding what medical treatments a client chooses to withhold or refuse if incapacitated.

Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care

A document designating a healthcare proxy to make medical decisions on behalf of a client if they become unable to do so.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

A law preventing discrimination against individuals with disabilities and mandating that employers offer reasonable accommodations.

HIPAA

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; a national standard establishing the protection and legal disclosure guidelines for private health information.

Controlled Substance Act

Federal regulations requiring classification, direct physician ordering, double-locked secure storage, inventory accounting, and witnessed wasting of controlled drugs.

Whistleblower Protection Act

A law providing legal immunity to individuals who report unsafe practices or impaired professionals in good faith.