NCLEX: legal and ethical principles of nursing and cultural considerations

justice

Fairness, to provide care that is just, and equitable, and evenly distributed

beneficence

Doing good for the client, doing the right thing

non maleficence

Doing no harm (intentional or unintentional)

fidelity

Keeping promises, remaining true to professional responsibilities

autonomy

Accepting the client is their own person with own perspectives, values, and beliefs, allowing client to make own decisions without judgement or coercion

veracity

Telling the complete truth, not witholding any part of the truth, even if it is upsetting

tort

A wrongful act or infringement of a right

negligence

Failure to take proper care in doing something

malpractice

Improper, illegal, or negligent professional activity or treatment

assault

An act, criminal or tortious, that threatens physical harm to a person (whether or not actual harm occurs)

battery

Unconsented physical contact with another person, even where the contact is not violent but merely menacing or offensive

false imprisonment

The state of being imprisoned without legal authority

Advanced Directive

a set of instructions someone prepares in advance of ill health that determines his healthcare wishes

If there is no one available to make medical decisions for a client who appears incapable of doing so, two physicians must evaluate the client and make a recommendation regarding the client’s decision-making ability.

Living Will

one type of advance directive that becomes effective when a person is terminally ill

Medical Power of Attorney

Designates a specific person to make medical decision for the client should they be unable to make their own decisions

Americans with Disabilities Act

prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities

EMTALA (Emergency Medical treatment and Active Labor Act)

Requires anyone coming to the ED be stabilized and treated regardless of insurance or ability to pay

HIPAA

• If someone doesn’t NEED the information to do their job, DON’T share it with them

  • Can share with other health care providers that need it to take care of the client

  • Can share with their family WITH the client’s permission

Buddhism

May follow vegetarian diet

No alcohol

May fast on Holy Days

Burial or cremation permitted upon death

Christianity

Some may avoid alcohol and caffeine

Roman Catholics

May fast on Ash Wednesday & Good Friday

may not consume meat on Fridays during Lent

Hinduism

No meat, poultry, fish/shellfish Beef especially avoided - cow is considered a sacred animal

No alcohol

Washing with running water important, may prefer taking a shower vs bath

Islam

May wish to worship/pray five times daily (Salah)

Must be clean before prayer

No pork or alcohol, avoid caffeine

Fast from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan

Specific procedures of slaughter for meat

At death, rituals of bathing and wrapping the body should be

performed before body is moved

Jehovah’s witness

No blood products for medical treatment

Avoid food containing blood

Judaism

May follow kosher diet

No pork or shellfish (fish with scales permitted)

No mixing dairy products with meat dishes

Fast for 24 hours on Yom Kippur

No leavened bread during Passover

Sons circumcised at 8 days

Day of rest on Shabbat (sundown Friday to sundown Saturday)

Extremely sick or dying person should not be left unattended, and

the body of the deceased should not be left alone until funeral

May observe Shiva - week-long mourning ritual

Seventh Day Adventist

No Pork, fish/shellfish

May follow vegetarian diet

No alcohol or caffeine