Ethics and Values

Autonomy

Freedom to make ones own decisions

Beneficence

Taking positive actions to help others

Nonmaleficence

Avoiding harm or hurt

Justice

Being fair

Fidelity

Agreement to keep promises

Professional nursing code of ethics

Set of guidelines all members of the profession accept

What are the key principles of the professional nursing code of ethics

• advocacy

• Responsibility

• Accountability

• Confidentiality

Value

A deeply held belief about worth of an idea, belief, attitude, etc that influences choices or behavior

Values clarification

Distinguish value vs fact vs opinion

Deontology

Actions are right/wrong in themselves

Utilitarianism

Value = usefulness (greatest good)

Feminist ethics

Focuses on inequality between people

Ethics of care

Relationships and personal narratives

Casuistry

Case-based reasoning

Ethical dilemma vs moral distress

• dilemma: choose between two or more conflicting options

• Distress: you know the right action but cant take it due to external barriers

Seven steps to processing an ethical problem

• ask: is this an ethical problem

• Gather: relevant info

• Identify: ethical elements, examine values

• Name: the problem

• Identify: possible causes of action

• Create/implement: an action plan

• Evaluate: the plan