Fundamentals of Nursing - Professional Formation, Ethics, and Values

Vocabulary flashcards covering Chapter 1 (Introduction to Nursing and Professional Formation) and Chapter 6 (Values, Ethics, and Advocacy) from Fundamentals of Nursing.

Nursing

The practice focused on caring for the whole person rather than simply treating a disease, which includes promoting health, preventing illness, helping restore health, supporting patients in coping, and advocating for patients.

Caregiver

A nursing role that provides physical and emotional care to the patient.

Advocate

A nursing role that protects the patient's rights, preferences, and needs.

Educator

A nursing role that teaches patients and families about health and care.

Communicator

A nursing role that exchanges information with patients, families, and the health care team.

Leader/manager

A nursing role that coordinates care and helps make decisions.

Collaborator

A nursing role that works with other health professionals.

Professional nursing

Nursing practice that requires knowledge, clinical judgment, communication skills, ethical behavior, accountability, and continued learning beyond procedure performance.

Professional formation

The process of developing identity and values as a professional nurse by gradually learning to think, communicate, behave, and make decisions according to professional nursing standards.

ANA (American Nurses Association)

A professional organization that represents registered nurses and establishes professional standards.

NLN (National League for Nursing)

A professional organization that focuses heavily on nursing education.

AACN (American Association of Colleges of Nursing)

A professional organization that focuses on higher education for professional nursing.

Clinical reasoning

The thinking process nurses use to understand patient information.

Clinical judgment

The decision the nurse reaches after considering and interpreting patient information.

Values

Beliefs about what a person considers important or desirable.

Values clarification

Examining your own beliefs so you understand how they could affect your decisions and interactions with patients.

Ethics

The branch of study dealing with determining what actions are right or wrong.

Autonomy

An ethical principle stating that patients have the right to make their own decisions.

Beneficence

An ethical principle to do good and promote the patient's well-being.

Nonmaleficence

An ethical principle to avoid causing harm.

Justice

An ethical principle to treat people fairly and distribute resources fairly.

Fidelity

An ethical principle to keep promises and commitments.

Veracity

An ethical principle to tell the truth.

ABNJFV

A memory trick standing for the major ethical principles: Autonomy, Beneficence, Nonmaleficence, Justice, Fidelity, and Veracity.

Ethical dilemma

A situation that occurs when there are competing ethical choices and no clear, single solution.