Ethics in Nursing: Principles, Laws, and Ethical Dilemmas

What are professional standards in nursing ethics?

Guidelines that guide ethical nursing practice.

How do morals differ from ethics?

Morals are learned from external influences, while ethics is the study of moral principles.

What is bioethics?

An interdisciplinary study of ethical, social, and legal issues in biomedicine and healthcare.

Define nursing ethics.

A subfield of bioethics focusing on the nurse-patient relationship and individual care.

What is the ANA Nursing Code of Ethics?

Formal statements of expectations and standards for professional behavior in nursing.

Why should nurses study ethics?

To promote, advocate for, and protect the rights, health, and safety of patients.

What is the primary commitment of a nurse according to the ANA Code of Ethics?

To the recipient(s) of nursing care, whether individuals, families, or communities.

What does the nurse's authority entail?

Responsibility and accountability for nursing practice consistent with health promotion and optimal care. (supporting patient)

What is the purpose of the Nurse Practice Act?

To regulate nursing practice, define the scope, and approve nursing education programs.

constitutional law

Superior law of the land

Statutory law

A law passed by Congress or by a state legislative body.

Administrative Law:

Governs the activities of administrative agencies

under federal law next 3 HIPAA what is it

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Establish standards to protect the privacy of personal health information

What is EMTALA?

Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, ensuring emergency services for all patients.

What is the Patient Self-Determination Act?

It grants patients the right to make decisions regarding their own healthcare.

State laws next 3 MANDATOR REPORTING

Healthcare workers need to report communicable diseases.

⟶ Duty to report physical, sexual, or emotional abuse or neglect to minors & elderly; imminent danger to someone

GOOD SAMARITAN

Designed to protect individuals from liability those who provide emergency care to someone in need of medical services (in their scope of practice)

NURSE PRACTICE ACTS (NPAs

Define the practice of nursing

⟶ Designed to:

1. Regulate nursing practice,

2. Define the scope of nursing practice

3. Approve programs providing nursing education

Legal documents wihtin healthcare

1.Patient Bill of Rights

2.Informed Consents

3. Advanced Directives:

a. Living Will

b. DPOA

POLST

patient bill of rights

A document outlining patients' rights regarding their medical care.

•Informed Consent

•Access to Medical Records

•Right to Refuse Treatment

•Confidentiality

informed consent

•MD/PA/NP

•No Coersion

•Witness

•Document Refusal

•IRB Approval(basically reseach approval on pateint)

What are advanced directives?

Documents that communicate patients' care preferences when they cannot speak for themselves.

What is a Living Will?

A document outlining a patient's preferences for medical treatment when incapacitated.

What does DNR stand for?

Do Not Resuscitate.

DPOA

who decided when you cant

POLST

•Physician's Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment

civil law

Assault- threat to hit or abuse somebody

Battey-when it actually happens

False imprinsonment- do not restrane without order

Invasion of privary- do not invade personal privacy

Fraud- false respresation of facts

ethical problem

applying ethical principles and deciding what to do

What is an ethical dilemma?

A situation involving two equally undesirable actions.

What is the 4-Box Approach in ethical decision-making?

A framework considering medical

indications

(⚬Pathophysiology

⚬Symptoms, recent changes)

patient preferences

⚬Full code, DNR?

⚬DNR but want nutrition via Gtube? IV fluids?),

quality of life(What does daily life for this patient look like),

and contextual features(Family dynamics? Religion at play? Values?)

What is moral distress?

The feeling of being unable to act according to one's ethical beliefs.

What is moral outrage?

The feeling of anger when witnessing unethical practices.

What role does a nurse play in ethical situations?

Sensitivity, support, advocacy, and participation in ethics committees.

What does ethical agency refer to?

The ability to act according to ethical principles.