Exam 3 Flash Cards

Advocacy

Protection and support of another’s rights.

Autonomy

Self-determination; being independent and self-governing.

Beneficence

Principle of doing good.

Bioethics

Ethics that encompass the understanding of human nature and behavior, the domain of social science, and the natural world.

Care-based approach

An approach to bioethics that focuses on individual patient situations within the context of their life narrative.

Code of ethics

Principles that reflect the primary goals, values, and obligations of the profession.

Conscientious objection

Refusal to participate in treatment based on personal and professional ethical beliefs.

Deontological

An ethical system where actions are right or wrong independently of the consequences they produce.

Moral agency

The ability to behave in an ethical manner; to do the ethically right thing because it is the right thing to do.

Ethical dilemma

A situation where adherence to basic ethical principles leads to conflicting courses of action.

Ethics

A system dealing with standards of character and behavior related to right and wrong.

Feminist ethics

Type of ethical approach critiquing patterns of oppression and domination, especially affecting women and the poor.

Fidelity

Keeping promises and commitments made to others.

Justice

The process of distributing benefits, risks, and costs fairly.

Moral distress

A predictable response to situations where one recognizes a moral problem.

Moral resilience

The developed capacity to respond well to morally distressing experiences.

Morals

Concerns with what constitutes right action; more informal and personal than ethics.

Nonmaleficence

The principle of avoiding evil.

Nursing ethics

A subset of bioethics focusing on ethical issues that arise in nursing practice.

Principle-based approach

An approach to bioethics that offers specific action guides.

Utilitarian action

The guiding theory of ethics that determines the rightness or wrongness of an action based on its consequences.

Values

Beliefs that are meaningful in life, influencing relationships with others.

Value system

Organization of values ranked along a continuum of importance.

Values clarification

The process of understanding one's own values and value system.

Virtues

Human excellences and cultivated dispositions of character that motivate us to be good human beings.

Negligence

Doing something or failing to do something that a reasonable nurse would not do.

Malpractice

Failure to fulfill duties in a manner that a competent nurse would practice.

Modeling

Learn values by observing others, leading to socially acceptable or unacceptable behaviors.

Moralizing

Being taught a complete value system with little opportunity to weigh different values.

Laissez-faire

Exploring values independently without guidance, potentially leading to confusion.

Rewarding and Punishing

Being rewarded for demonstrating accepted values and punished for unacceptable ones.

Responsible Choice

Exploring competing values and weighing their consequences with guidance.

Giving Voices to Values

Implementing ethical actions by determining the right course.

Moral Injury

Betrayal of what is right or ethical by a person in authority or oneself.

Representing Patients

Nurses' role in arranging referrals and helping patients achieve desired outcomes.

Promoting Self-Determination

Educating the public and facilitating patients’ decision-making through written advanced directives.

Making Ethical Decision

The process of assessing situations, identifying options, making decisions and evaluating outcomes.

Paternalism

The ethical dilemma of acting against a patient’s wishes to prevent harm.

Deception

The ethical issue of lying to ease a patient's anxiety.

Allocation of Scarce Nursing Resources

Prioritizing care with insufficient staffing for multiple urgent patient needs.

Valid Consent or Refusal

The ethical consideration of administering medication to a non-consenting patient.

Conflicts Concerning New Technologies

Responding to a patient’s concerns about new procedures while respecting their beliefs.

Unprofessional Nurse Practice

Handling allegations of a colleague’s inappropriate behavior.

Short Staffing Issues

Addressing chronic understaffing and patient risk.

Beginning-of-Life Issues

Navigating conflicts between personal beliefs and institutional policies in unplanned pregnancies.

End-of-Life Issues

Reconciling personal beliefs with professional duties concerning assisted suicide.

Purpose of Ethical Committee

A staff resource for ensuring patient safety and respect for wishes.

Whistleblowing

Reporting unsafe care or malpractice.

Law

A standard or rule established by the government to protect public rights.

Constitutions

Documents that establish government authority and laws.

Statutory Law

Laws consistent with federal and state constitutions, including nurse practice acts.

Administrative Law

Laws created by agencies enforcing regulations.

Common law

Court-made law often involving malpractice cases.

The Nurse Practice Act

Defines legal boundaries of nursing practice within each state.

Standards

Legal requirements describing minimum acceptable nursing care.

Accreditation

Evaluation process recognizing educational standards.

Licensure

Process to determine qualifications for professional practice.

Certification

Recognition granted for meeting established criteria in a practice area.

Crime

A violation punishable by the state.

Misdemeanor

Less serious crime, often involving a fine or less than 1 year of imprisonment.

Felony

Serious crimes punishable by more than 1 year of imprisonment.

Tort

Acts of wrongdoing, either intentional or unintentional.

Assault

Threat or attempt to make bodily contact without consent.

Battery

Willful and aggressive touching of another person.

Defamation

Intentional remarks that harm another's reputation.

False Imprisonment

Unjustified retention of another's movement without consent.

Fraud

Willful misrepresentation causing potential loss or harm.

Negligence

Unintentional error in judgment leading to inadequate care.

Malpractice

Intentional misconduct or disregard for patient safety.

Duty

Accurate assessment and execution of safety measures for patients.

Breach of Duty

Failure to report changes in a patient's condition or execute appropriate safety measures.

Causation

Failure to implement safety measures leading to patient harm.

Damages

Consequences such as pain, suffering, or extended hospital stays.

Just Culture

Supports error reporting and focuses on systemic problems.

OSHA

Sets and enforces workplace safety standards.

HIPAA

Establishes standards for protecting patients' health information.

ADA

Prohibits discrimination based on disability.

EMTALA

Requires emergency treatment irrespective of payment ability.

Actual loss

Loss recognized by others, such as physical injuries or loss of a job.

Perceived loss

Intangible losses experienced by the individual.

Anticipatory loss

Grief displayed over a loss that has not yet occurred.

Mourning

Actions and expressions of grief, including rituals.

Bereavement

The state of grieving due to the loss of a loved one.

Shock and disbelief

The first stage of grief, characterized by refusal to accept loss.

Developing awareness

The second stage, involving emotional responses like anger and sadness.

Restitution

The third stage involving rituals surrounding loss.

Resolving the loss

The fourth stage, addressing the void left by loss.

Idealization

The fifth stage, focusing on exaggerated qualities of what is lost.

Outcome

The final resolution of the grief process.

Terminal Illness

An illness expected to lead to death within a limited time.

Palliative Care

Holistic care that aims to improve quality of life for seriously ill patients.

Goal of Palliative Care

To manage symptoms for the best quality of life possible.

Hospice Care

Care for individuals with limited life expectancy, often at home.

Goal of Hospice Care

Focused on meeting the needs of dying patients.

Explicit Power

Clearly defined authority in written policies.

Implied Power

Authority derived from expertise without explicit statement.

Autocratic Leadership

Leader assumes control over group decisions.

Democratic Leadership

Leadership characterized by equal participation among group members.

Laissez-Faire Leadership

Leader relinquishes power to the group.

Servant Leadership

A philosophy prioritizing service to individuals and communities.