Nursing Values and Ethics

These flashcards cover critical terminology and concepts from the lecture on nursing values and ethics, intended for exam preparation.

Ethics

The branch of philosophy that helps us organize our thinking and reasoning about what is considered right and wrong in a social context.

Moral Integrity

A virtue related to reliability, wholeness, and fidelity in adhering to moral norms that are sustained over time, reflecting consistency between convictions and actions.

Ethical Dilemma

A situation involving values and beliefs where the clear course of action is not obvious, with strong ethical reasons supporting each alternative.

Professional Accountability

The obligation of nurses to act in accordance with ethical standards and the well-being of their patients.

Informed Consent

Consent is informed if the person receives necessary information regarding treatment and responses to requests for additional information prior to deciding.

Values vs. Beliefs

Beliefs are convictions assumed to be true, while values are strong personal beliefs that influence behavior and decision-making.

Bioethics

A field of ethics concerned with the implications of biological and medical procedures, technologies, and treatments.

Principlism

An ethical approach that considers four main principles in decision-making: respect for autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice.

Substitute Decision Maker (SDM)

An individual authorized to make decisions on behalf of another person who is incapable of making those decisions themselves.

Ethical Principles

Guidelines that help determine acceptable behavior within the field of nursing, including autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice.

Moral Distress

The psychological discomfort experienced when one knows the right course of action but is constrained from taking it.

Hierarchy of Substitute Decision-Makers

An ordered list of individuals authorized to make decisions on behalf of those unable to do so, ranking from guardians to distant relatives.

Fidelity

The ethical principle of faithfulness and loyalty, upholding promises and commitments made to patients.

Veracity

The ethical principle of truthfulness, ensuring honesty and accuracy in communication with patients.

Confidentiality

The ethical principle of protecting sensitive patient information and maintaining privacy.

Autonomy

The ethical principle recognizing a patient's right to self-determination and to make decisions about their own healthcare.

Beneficence

The ethical principle that states one should act in ways that benefit others or do good.

Non-maleficence

The ethical principle to do no harm and to prevent harm to others.

Justice

The ethical principle requiring fair treatment and equitable distribution of resources and burdens among all individuals.

Deontology

An ethical theory that judges the morality of an action based on adherence to rules or duties rather than consequences.

Utilitarianism

An ethical theory that determines right from wrong by focusing on outcomes, with the most ethical choice being the one that produces the greatest good for the greatest number.

Virtue Ethics

An ethical approach that emphasizes the role of character and moral virtues in ethical decision-making, rather than rules or consequences.

Patient Advocacy

The act of supporting and protecting a patient's rights, interests, and well-being, especially within the healthcare system.

What branch of philosophy helps organize thinking about right and wrong in a social context?

Multiple Choice: a) Bioethics, b) Ethics, c) Principlism, d) Utilitarianism

Which ethical approach considers autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice in decision-making?

Multiple Choice: a) Deontology, b) Virtue Ethics, c) Principlism, d) Utilitarianism

Which of the following best describes 'informed consent'?

Multiple Choice: a) Consent given without full disclosure, b) Consent given after receiving necessary information and responses to questions, c) Consent obtained through coercion, d) Consent provided by an unconsulted substitute decision maker

What is the ethical principle of faithfulness and loyalty, upholding promises and commitments made to patients?

Multiple Choice: a) Veracity, b) Confidentiality, c) Fidelity, d) Autonomy

An ethical theory that judges the morality of an action based on adherence to rules or duties rather than consequences is called:

Multiple Choice: a) Utilitarianism, b) Virtue Ethics, c) Principlism, d) Deontology

True or False: Moral integrity means adhering to moral norms only when convenient.

True/False: False. It means consistency between convictions and actions sustained over time.

True or False: Moral distress is the psychological discomfort of knowing the right action but being prevented from taking it.

True/False: True

True or False: Beliefs are strong personal convictions influencing behavior, while values are convictions assumed true.

True/False: False. This swaps their definitions. Values are strong personal beliefs that influence behavior, while Beliefs are convictions assumed to be true.

True or False: The principle of Non-maleficence requires nurses to always act for the benefit of patients, even if it causes minor harm.

True/False: False. Non-maleficence is to do no harm and prevent harm. Acting for benefit (beneficence) must not override the avoidance of harm.

True or False: A Substitute Decision Maker (SDM) makes decisions for someone capable of making their own choices but unwilling to do so.

True/False: False. An SDM is for someone incapable of making their own decisions.

Which of the following are considered Ethical Principles in nursing? Select all that apply: a) Autonomy, b) Beneficence, c) Non-maleficence, d) Financial management, e) Justice, f) Patient comfort.

a) Autonomy, b) Beneficence, c) Non-maleficence, e) Justice.

Which actions are components of Professional Accountability for nurses? Select all that apply: a) Acting in accordance with ethical standards, b) Prioritizing personal interests during patient care, c) Acting for the well-being of their patients, d) Ignoring patient concerns if they are minor, e) Maintaining patient confidentiality (implied by ethical standards).

a) Acting in accordance with ethical standards, c) Acting for the well-being of their patients, e) Maintaining patient confidentiality.

What is mandatory for 'Informed Consent' to be valid? Select all that apply: a) The person receives necessary information regarding treatment, b) The person's requests for additional information are responded to, c) The consent is given verbally with no written documentation, d) The person makes their decision prior to receiving information, e) The decision is made freely without coercion.

a) The person receives necessary information regarding treatment, b) The person's requests for additional information are responded to, e) The decision is made freely without coercion.

What are key characteristics of an 'Ethical Dilemma'? Select all that apply: a) Involves values and beliefs, b) The clear course of action is not obvious, c) There are strong ethical reasons supporting each alternative, d) It only applies to major medical decisions, e) It always has an easy solution if ethical principles are applied.

a) Involves values and beliefs, b) The clear course of action is not obvious, c) There are strong ethical reasons supporting each alternative.

Which ethical theories focus on the 'character' or 'moral virtues' of the decision-maker? Select all that apply: a) Deontology, b) Utilitarianism, c) Virtue Ethics, d) Principlism, e) Moral Integrity (as a virtue related to character).

c) Virtue Ethics, e) Moral Integrity.

Which ethical principle is concerned with the fair treatment and equitable distribution of resources?

Multiple Choice: a) Autonomy, b) Beneficence, c) Non-maleficence, d) Justice

The ethical principle of truthfulness, ensuring honesty and accuracy in communication with patients, is known as:

Multiple Choice: a) Fidelity, b) Confidentiality, c) Veracity, d) Autonomy

Which ethical theory focuses on the greatest good for the greatest number?

Multiple Choice: a) Deontology, b) Virtue Ethics, c) Principlism, d) Utilitarianism

True or False: Bioethics is a field of ethics exclusively concerned with legal aspects of medical procedures.

True/False: False. It's concerned with the implications of biological and medical procedures, technologies, and treatments, which includes ethical considerations beyond just legal ones.

True or False: Patient advocacy primarily involves ensuring the patient has access to the most expensive treatments.

True/False: False. Patient advocacy involves supporting and protecting a patient's rights, interests, and well-being, which may or may not include expensive treatments.

Which characteristics define 'Moral Distress'? Select all that apply: a) It is a psychological discomfort, b) Occurs when one knows the right course of action, c) Occurs when one is constrained from taking the right action, d) It always leads to immediate job termination, e) It only affects new nurses.

a) It is a psychological discomfort, b) Occurs when one knows the right course of action, c) Occurs when one is constrained from taking the right action.

What responsibilities are associated with 'Patient Advocacy'? Select all that apply: a) Supporting a patient's rights, b) Protecting a patient's interests, c) Protecting a patient's well-being, d) Making decisions for the patient without their input, e) Limiting a patient's access to information.

a) Supporting a patient's rights, b) Protecting a patient's interests, c) Protecting a patient's well-being.