7 CORE ETHICAL PRINCIPLES FOR NURSING PRACTICE
What Are the 7 Ethical Principles in Nursing?
1. Accountability
2. Justice
3. Nonmaleficence
4. Autonomy
5. Beneficence
6. Fidelity
7. Veracity
1. Accountability
Accountability is chief among the ethical principles in nursing. Each nurse must be
responsible for his or her own choices and actions in the course of patient care. Nurses
who hold themselves accountable often provide higher-quality patient care. They are
more likely to build stronger relationships with patients, thanks to increased trust.
Accountable nurses adhere to their scope of practice and, in many cases, are
greatly appreciated by their colleagues and patients.
2. Justice
Justice plays a significant part in the nursing code of ethics. Every nurse has a
responsibility to make care decisions that are based only on the facts, not on other
factors like the patient’s
• Age
• Ethnicity
• Religion
• Socioeconomic status
• Sexual orientation
, To uphold the justice ethical principle, nurses should act as fair and impartial care
givers, which can help patients feel more valued. Treating each patient fairly, regardless
of their circumstances, is essential for helping patients accept and participate in their
own care; this, in turn, often leads to better patient outcomes.
3. Nonmaleficence
You’ve likely already heard of this ethical principle, which is to do no harm. According to
the National Library of Medicine, nursing nonmaleficence echoes exactly that. Nurses
have a critical responsibility to prevent further harm from coming to all their patients.
Each nurse must take action to prevent harm. Nonmaleficence in nursing is essential to
safe, effective patient care that is delivered to the best of a nurse’s ability.
4. Autonomy
While nurses are guided by best medical practices and standards of care, they must
also support patient autonomy. This means that patients who can make decisions for
themselves must be allowed to do so, even if their decisions go against nursing or
medical expertise. Nurses must advocate for patient autonomy as long as patients are
capable of exercising this right.
5. Beneficence
Beneficence in nursing can be defined as the charity and kindness nurses offer to other
people, which is demonstrated by their actions in the medical setting. Beneficence
means that nurses perform actions intended to benefit others; they act with the patient’s
best interests in mind. In order to act with beneficence in nursing, each nurse must
approach each patient as a unique individual with their own life circumstances, opinions,
and experiences. Beneficence also means that nurses must put aside their own
personal feelings to provide care to the best of their abilities.
6. Fidelity
People want to know they can count on nurses, no matter what. The fidelity ethical
principle can best be described by keeping your word to patients. Nurses should be
honest and loyal to each patient, as this helps the nurse gain trust and fulfill their
professional commitment. Without fidelity, more trusting relationships cannot be formed,
which leads to less positive patient outcomes and less trust in professional
relationships.
What Are the 7 Ethical Principles in Nursing?
1. Accountability
2. Justice
3. Nonmaleficence
4. Autonomy
5. Beneficence
6. Fidelity
7. Veracity
1. Accountability
Accountability is chief among the ethical principles in nursing. Each nurse must be
responsible for his or her own choices and actions in the course of patient care. Nurses
who hold themselves accountable often provide higher-quality patient care. They are
more likely to build stronger relationships with patients, thanks to increased trust.
Accountable nurses adhere to their scope of practice and, in many cases, are
greatly appreciated by their colleagues and patients.
2. Justice
Justice plays a significant part in the nursing code of ethics. Every nurse has a
responsibility to make care decisions that are based only on the facts, not on other
factors like the patient’s
• Age
• Ethnicity
• Religion
• Socioeconomic status
• Sexual orientation
, To uphold the justice ethical principle, nurses should act as fair and impartial care
givers, which can help patients feel more valued. Treating each patient fairly, regardless
of their circumstances, is essential for helping patients accept and participate in their
own care; this, in turn, often leads to better patient outcomes.
3. Nonmaleficence
You’ve likely already heard of this ethical principle, which is to do no harm. According to
the National Library of Medicine, nursing nonmaleficence echoes exactly that. Nurses
have a critical responsibility to prevent further harm from coming to all their patients.
Each nurse must take action to prevent harm. Nonmaleficence in nursing is essential to
safe, effective patient care that is delivered to the best of a nurse’s ability.
4. Autonomy
While nurses are guided by best medical practices and standards of care, they must
also support patient autonomy. This means that patients who can make decisions for
themselves must be allowed to do so, even if their decisions go against nursing or
medical expertise. Nurses must advocate for patient autonomy as long as patients are
capable of exercising this right.
5. Beneficence
Beneficence in nursing can be defined as the charity and kindness nurses offer to other
people, which is demonstrated by their actions in the medical setting. Beneficence
means that nurses perform actions intended to benefit others; they act with the patient’s
best interests in mind. In order to act with beneficence in nursing, each nurse must
approach each patient as a unique individual with their own life circumstances, opinions,
and experiences. Beneficence also means that nurses must put aside their own
personal feelings to provide care to the best of their abilities.
6. Fidelity
People want to know they can count on nurses, no matter what. The fidelity ethical
principle can best be described by keeping your word to patients. Nurses should be
honest and loyal to each patient, as this helps the nurse gain trust and fulfill their
professional commitment. Without fidelity, more trusting relationships cannot be formed,
which leads to less positive patient outcomes and less trust in professional
relationships.
