Chapter 43 -Ethics and Values
MORALS
Morals: -private,
-personal
-Learned from external influences
ETHICS
Ethic is the study of a system of moral principles and standards, or the process of using them to
decide your conduct and actions. Ethics helps us to decide what is right or wrong and what actions
should be taken in certain circumstances.
Why should nurses study ethics?
You will frequently encounter ethical problems in your work
ethic is central to nursing
multidisciplinary input is important: committee to address complex ethical issues.
ethical knowledge is necessary for professional competence
Ethical reasoning is necessary for nursing credibility among other disciplines
Ethical proficiency is essential for providing holistic care
nurses have the responsibility to advocate for patients
make better decisions.
What is (moral) ethical agency?
Ethical conduct to participate in decision making
Perceive the difference between right and wrong.
Understand abstract ethical principles.
Reason and apply ethical principles to make decisions, weigh alternatives, and plan sound ways to
achieve goals.
Decide and choose freely.
Act according to choice (this assumes both the power and the capability to act).
What is moral distress?
1
, Inability to carry out a moral decision.
Response to the inability to carry out one’s chosen ethical/moral decision/action
situational constraints prevent nurses from acing on their moral decisions.
can occur when nurses are unable to act as moral agents.
What is moral outrage?
Belief that others are acing immorally.
How does moral outrage differ from moral distress?
In moral outrage, the nurse is not participating in the act. Therefore, they do not believe that they
are responsible for doing wrong, but that they are powerless to prevent others from doing so.
Moral distress (ND): response to the inability to carry out one’s choses ethical/moral decision/action
How can a nurse respond to moral outrage?
Whistleblowing (a person who reveals information about practices of others that are perceived as
wrong, fraudulent, corrupt, illegal or detriment to the health, safety and welfare of the client they
serve)
ANA code of ethics protect patient health and safety by acting on questionable practices.
What is impaired nursing practice?
Impaired nursing practice occurs when the nurse’s ability to perform the essential
nursing functions is diminished by chemical dependence on drugs or alcohol or by
mental illness.
Ethical problem sources for nurses
Factors that contribute to the frequency of nurse's ethical problems.
What Are Some Sources of Ethical Problems for Nurses?
Societal factors:
Increased consumer awareness
Technological advances
Multicultural population: values and beliefs are different
Cost containment: emphasis on reducing HC costs creates ethically questionable situations.
Exe: Pt sent home because limited services outside hospital. # of pt per nurse.
2
MORALS
Morals: -private,
-personal
-Learned from external influences
ETHICS
Ethic is the study of a system of moral principles and standards, or the process of using them to
decide your conduct and actions. Ethics helps us to decide what is right or wrong and what actions
should be taken in certain circumstances.
Why should nurses study ethics?
You will frequently encounter ethical problems in your work
ethic is central to nursing
multidisciplinary input is important: committee to address complex ethical issues.
ethical knowledge is necessary for professional competence
Ethical reasoning is necessary for nursing credibility among other disciplines
Ethical proficiency is essential for providing holistic care
nurses have the responsibility to advocate for patients
make better decisions.
What is (moral) ethical agency?
Ethical conduct to participate in decision making
Perceive the difference between right and wrong.
Understand abstract ethical principles.
Reason and apply ethical principles to make decisions, weigh alternatives, and plan sound ways to
achieve goals.
Decide and choose freely.
Act according to choice (this assumes both the power and the capability to act).
What is moral distress?
1
, Inability to carry out a moral decision.
Response to the inability to carry out one’s chosen ethical/moral decision/action
situational constraints prevent nurses from acing on their moral decisions.
can occur when nurses are unable to act as moral agents.
What is moral outrage?
Belief that others are acing immorally.
How does moral outrage differ from moral distress?
In moral outrage, the nurse is not participating in the act. Therefore, they do not believe that they
are responsible for doing wrong, but that they are powerless to prevent others from doing so.
Moral distress (ND): response to the inability to carry out one’s choses ethical/moral decision/action
How can a nurse respond to moral outrage?
Whistleblowing (a person who reveals information about practices of others that are perceived as
wrong, fraudulent, corrupt, illegal or detriment to the health, safety and welfare of the client they
serve)
ANA code of ethics protect patient health and safety by acting on questionable practices.
What is impaired nursing practice?
Impaired nursing practice occurs when the nurse’s ability to perform the essential
nursing functions is diminished by chemical dependence on drugs or alcohol or by
mental illness.
Ethical problem sources for nurses
Factors that contribute to the frequency of nurse's ethical problems.
What Are Some Sources of Ethical Problems for Nurses?
Societal factors:
Increased consumer awareness
Technological advances
Multicultural population: values and beliefs are different
Cost containment: emphasis on reducing HC costs creates ethically questionable situations.
Exe: Pt sent home because limited services outside hospital. # of pt per nurse.
2
