ethics in public and community health nursing practice

ethics

is a branch of philosophy concerned with determining right and wrong in R/T people’s decisions or actions. 

-uBasing actions on ethical principles supports clinical decision making and the practice of nursing

bioethics

a subsystem of ethics for the health and life sciences. 

numberg code

est after WW2

-emphasizes voluntary informed consent

-gives individual the right to witdraw

Tuskegee syphillis study

a study where the men were not informed and were not given appropriate treatment

no informed consent

opposite of numberg code

informed consent

uParticipants must understand the study and voluntarily agree to take part.

confidentiality

Personal health data must be protected to prevent stigma or discrimination

justice

uParticipants should be selected fairly — not only from vulnerable or easily accessed groups.

beneficience

uThe study should aim to improve community health without causing harm to individuals.

nonmaleficence

Hippocratic oath – to do no harm

nightingale pledge

considered nursing’s first code of ethics.

ethical issues

general moral challenges facing our profession (i.e. Covid-19, surveillance, contact tracing)

ethical delimmas

ua puzzling moral problem in which a person, group, or community can envision morally justified reasons for both taking and not taking a certain course of action (who gets vaccine?  Limited supplies of PPE)

ethical decision making

a systematic process and evaluation of an ethical issue or dilemma.  Focuses on the process of how ethical dilemmas are made

moral distress

occurs when one is unable to act in a way that he or she thinks is right due to internal or external constraints

-a possible effect of having to navigate morally challenging issues

utilitarianism

greatest good for greatest amount of people

-ex: not allowing smoking in restaurants or public places to protect the greatest amount of ppl

deontology

it’s either right or wrong. Adhering to moral rules is a duty. 

-telling a pt the truth no matter if they want ti hear it

autonomy

self-governance

nonmaleficence

to do no wrong

assurance

making sure the community has all the resources they need

-all persons should receive essential personal health services

-providers should be competent to provide care and be available

advocacy

uthe act of pleading for or supporting a course of action on behalf of a person, group, or community.