Study Notes on Ethical Principles in Nursing

Ethical Principles in Nursing

Ethical principles are key in guiding nursing practice and are foundational in nursing education.
These principles often arise in various courses, notably in mental health, where they will appear on exams.
Key terms related to nursing ethics will be reaffirmed in future classes, particularly in mental health.

Definition: Autonomy refers to the right of patients and nurses to make their own decisions, free from external control.
Responsibilities of Nurses:
- Nurses must educate patients about their options to ensure they understand the implications of their choices.
- Patients retain the right to refuse any treatment or procedure.
Consequences of Refusal: If patients refuse care excessively, they may be discharged from a healthcare facility, impacting their health outcomes.

Definition: Beneficence is the ethical principle of taking positive actions to help others.
Quality of Nursing Students: Nursing professionals typically possess a natural inclination towards beneficence, as their career choice reflects a desire to care.
Community Action: Reference to social behaviors where individuals intervene to help others in need, indicating a shared moral social responsibility.

Definition: Nonmaleficence means "do no harm."
Purpose in Nursing: The goal of nursing is to assist and enhance the well-being of patients, thereby avoiding harm.

Definition: Justice concerns fairness and equality in the treatment of all patients.
Application in Nursing: A commitment to treat all patients equitably, regardless of their backgrounds, characteristics, or behaviors.
Illustrative Example: A teacher treating all students fairly despite varying levels of performance or conduct.

Definition: Fidelity represents the trust and agreement to honor promises made to patients.
Significance in Nursing: Being trustworthy fosters communication, allowing patients to feel comfortable disclosing necessary information. Nurses must avoid making promises that cannot be kept.

Definition: Accountability is the obligation to explain and justify one’s actions.
Importance: Nurses must accept responsibility for their decisions and actions, demonstrating professionalism and integrity. This is often illustrated in case studies of nursing errors.

Definition: Veracity refers to honesty in practice.
Nursing Stance: Nurses are committed to truthfulness in all aspects of patient interaction, fostering trust.
Challenges: Navigating situations where honesty conflicts with a patient’s expectations (i.e., offering guarantees).

Definition: Confidentiality involves protecting a patient’s private information in line with ethical and legal standards.
Nursing Responsibilities: Nurses must ensure sensitive patient information is kept private, recognizing that breaches can harm both patient trust and the nurse's career.
Personal Experience: Stories illustrating real-life challenges faced in maintaining confidentiality, particularly in hospital settings.

Definition: A code of ethics is a set of guiding principles accepted by nursing professionals.
Components of Ethical Practice:
- Advocacy: Using professional knowledge to support patients.
- Responsibility: Upholding professional obligations.
- Accountability: Maintaining integrity by standing by one’s actions.
- Confidentiality: Protecting patient privacy.

Definition: Values are beliefs about what is important and desirable, influencing decisions and behavior.
Conflicts: Differences between nurse and patient values can lead to ethical dilemmas.
Impact on Care: Factors like upbringing and personal beliefs shape values, affecting the nurse's practice.

Ethical dilemmas generally arise when values conflict, particularly in situations dealing with:
1. Quality of Life: Discussions around end-of-life decisions and life-prolonging measures.
2. Genetic Screening: Ethical implications of testing for genetic conditions without cures or symptoms.
3. End-of-life Care: Decisions around continuing or ceasing treatment at critical moments.
4. Access to Healthcare: Challenges surrounding equitable access to care options based on financial or geographic barriers.

Definition: Moral distress is the anguish felt when a nurse feels unable to act according to their ethical standards.
Alleviation Strategies: Providing ethics education, facilitating communication among staff, and sharing experiences with colleagues can help address moral distress.

Importance: Collaborative practices help nurses navigate complex ethical dilemmas by drawing on diverse perspectives from various healthcare professionals.
Role of Nurses: Nurses advocate for patient needs while contributing unique insights to collaborative discussions, especially during ethical crises.

Identification of the dilemma: Recognize the ethical conflict and gather pertinent facts.
Consult with the ethics committee: Share details with an interdisciplinary team for objective analysis and guidance.
Make Informed Decisions: Utilize the committee's recommendations to take action that aligns with ethical principles.
Document and Reflect: Record the outcomes of the decision-making process and reflect for future learning.

Ethical principles serve as fundamental guidelines in nursing, providing a framework for decision-making.
Continued education and professional development in ethics is vital to ensure that nurses can navigate the complexities of ethical dilemmas in practice.
Open communication with patients is critical, as is ongoing support among healthcare team members to address ethical challenges responsibly.