Professionalism and Nursing Ethics Lecture Flashcards

Vocabulary and key concepts covering nursing professionalism, ethics, scope of practice, and healthcare law based on the provided lecture transcript.

Professionalism

Professional behaviors that reflect a nurse’s commitment to secure the interests and welfare of those entrusted to the nurse’s care, flowing from professional values such as altruism, autonomy, and social justice.

Altruism

A professional value identified by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2008) reflecting a concern for the welfare and well-being of others.

Human Dignity

A professional value of nursing that involves respect for the inherent worth and uniqueness of individuals and populations.

Professional Identity

Provision of a caring relationship that facilitates health and healing, characterized by attention to human experiences, application of scientific knowledge, and the advancement of nursing through scholarly inquiry.

LPN/LVN Scope of Practice

Nursing practice characterized by working under the supervision of an RN to monitor findings, gather data, reinforce teaching, and perform routine procedures such as catheterization and wound care.

LPN/LVN Medication Administration Limits

Nurses in this role can administer injections and narcotics but are generally not permitted to administer IV medications or the 1st IV bag.

Ethics

The study of right and wrong related to human conduct.

Advocacy

Supporting and defending clients’ health, wellness, safety, wishes, and personal rights, including privacy.

Responsibility

The willingness to respect obligations and follow through on promises.

Accountability

The ability to answer for one’s own actions.

Confidentiality

The protection of privacy without diminishing access to high-quality care.

Autonomy

The right to make one’s own personal decisions, even when those decisions might not be in that person’s own best interest.

Beneficence

An ethical principle involving action that promotes good for others, without any self-interest.

Fidelity

The fulfillment of promises.

Justice

Fairness in care delivery and use of resources.

Nonmaleficence

A commitment to do no harm.

Veracity

A commitment to tell the truth.

ANA Code of Ethics Provision 1

The nurse practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes of every person.

ANA Code of Ethics Provision 2

The nurse’s primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, community, or population.

Negligence

An unintentional tort where harm results because a person did not act reasonably.

Malpractice

Failure of a person with professional training to act in a reasonable and prudent manner (also known as professional negligence).

Breach of Confidentiality

Divulging health information to unauthorized people without the client’s written permission.

Assault

An intentional tort where the conduct of one person makes another person fearful and apprehensive.

Battery

Intentional and wrongful physical contact with a person that involves an injury or offensive contact.

False Imprisonment

A person is confined or restrained against their will.

Defamation of Character

Untrue information that harms a person’s reputation.

The Joint Commission

A regulatory agency that sets quality standards for the accreditation of health care facilities.

Utilization Review Committees

Committees tasked with monitoring for appropriate diagnosis and treatment of hospitalized clients.

HIPAA

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which requires health care agencies to safeguard written, spoken, and electronic health information.

Mandatory Reporting (Abuse)

State laws requiring healthcare personnel to report suspected child or elder abuse take precedence over HIPAA/confidentiality regulations.

Incident Reports

A document describing an accident or unusual event as part of a facility’s quality improvement plan; it should be factual and never referred to in a client's medical record.

Serious Reportable Events (Never Events)

Events that are unambiguous, serious, and usually preventable, including outcomes resulting in death or significant disability.

Sentinel Events

Unexpected events that result in death or serious physical or psychological injury.

NALPN

National Association of Licensed Practical Nurses, Inc.

NAPNES

National Association for Practical Nurse Education and Service