NUR 155 Ethical Principles

The client makes a healthcare decision that is reflective of the client's personal beliefs and goals. Autonomy The medical-surgical unit nurse takes into account each client's needs when deciding how much time to spend with each client. Justice The nurse refuses to provide client information by telephone to a caller who claims to be the client's relative. Confidentiality The nurse provides the same quality of care to all clients of every ethnic and cultural background. Justice The nurse performs the "Rights" of medication administration prior to administering the client's medication. Beneficence Immediately after making a medication error, the nurse seeks out the nurse manager and self-reports the error. Accountability The surgeon explains the risks and benefits of a surgical procedure to the client prior to obtaining the client's consent for surgery. Autonomy The nurse offers to feed a client who is having difficulty with self-care. Beneficence The client is diagnosed with a terminal illness; although family members request that the physician withhold the potentially distressing information from the client, the physician informs the client of the diagnosis. Veracity The nurse withholds a scheduled medication based on the client's assessment data in order to prevent potential injury to the client. Non-maleficence The nurse supports the client's decision to refuse chemotherapy for treatment of cancer. Autonomy The client refuses a medical treatment based on religious beliefs. Autonomy The nurse follows through on commitments that are made to the client, such as returning to reassess the client at a specific time. Fidelity The nurse reports a nurse colleague who is practicing while impaired by drugs or alcohol. Non-maleficence The nurse performs hand hygiene before providing client care. Beneficence Autonomy pertaining to the individual's right to make informed, freewill choices without coercion. Non-maleficence - refraining from actions that may cause harm to others; preventing the occurrence of actions that may cause harm to others; not implementing an action that is potentially or actually harmful. Beneficence - centers on doing for others only that which is good; implementing actions that are intended to benefit and promote the well-being of clients. Justice - reflective of the fair and equitable treatment of all individuals regardless of gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, religion, ethnicity, or health status. In broad terms, justice refers to "the fair distribution of benefits and burdens" (Rich & Butts, 2014, p. 114). In direct application to health care, justice often is discussed in the context of the impartial provision of equitable services to others in accordance with the needs and contributions of individuals and groups. In nursing, application of justice includes taking into consideration each client's needs, and then fairly distributing resources (including time) to each client. Fidelity - promise-keeping; loyalty with regard to fulfillment of all agreements and professional responsibilities that are expected of an individual during the course of professional practice. Confidentiality - Requires protecting and refusing to disclose an individual's personal information without first obtaining the individual's consent. Confidentiality represents both an ethical and a legal principle. Breach of confidentiality includes sharing private information without consent of the individual to whom the information pertains, as well as giving information by telephone to individuals who claim to be related to a client. Providing information without obtaining a signed release from the client also constitutes a breach of confidentiality (Weiss & Tappen, 2015, p. 31).