What ethical principle relates to the concept of faithfulness and practice of promise keeping?
In this section of the NCLEX-RN examination, you will be expected to demonstrate your knowledge and skills of ethical practice in order to: Show
Ethics, simply defined, is a principle that describes what is expected in terms of right and correct and wrong or incorrect in terms of behavior. For example, nurses are held to ethical principles contained within the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics. Ethics and ethical practice are integrated into all aspects of nursing care. The two major classifications of ethical principles and ethical thought are utilitarianism and deontology. Deontology is the ethical school of thought that requires that both the means and the end goal must be moral and ethical; and the utilitarian school of ethical thought states that the end goal justifies the means even when the means are not moral. The ethical principles that nurses must adhere to are the principles of justice, beneficence, nonmaleficence, accountability, fidelity, autonomy, and veracity.
The most commonly occurring ethical issues and concerns in healthcare include the allocation of scarce resources and end of life issues. Bioethics is a subcategory of ethics. Bioethics addresses ethical concerns like those that occur as the result of advancing science and technological advances. Some of the most common, current bioethical issues revolve around stem cells, cloning, and genetic engineering. Recognizing Ethical Dilemmas and Taking Appropriate ActionNurses have the responsibility to recognize and identify ethical issues that affect staff and patients. For example, providing nursing care for clients undergoing an abortion may raise ethical and moral concerns and issues for some nurses; and some patients may be affected with a liver transplant rejection because donor livers are not abundant enough to meet the needs of all patients who request it. Many hospitals, medical centers and other healthcare facilities have multidisciplinary ethics committees that meet as a group and resolve ethical dilemmas and conflicts. Nurses should avail themselves to ethicists and ethical committees within their facility when such ethical resources and mechanisms are present in order to resolve ethical concerns and ethical dilemmas. In addition to utilizing these resources, the nurse can take appropriate actions when faced with an ethical dilemma by understanding and applying the ethical guidelines provided in the American Nurses Association's Code of Ethics, the American Medical Association's Code of Ethics, the World Medical Association's Code of Ethics, the American Nurses Association's Standards of Care and Standards of Practice, American Nurses Association's position papers such as that which describes the ethical use of narcotic analgesics at the end of life even if this medication hastens death, state board of nursing declaratory statements, and the International Nurses Association's Code of Ethics. The steps of the ethical decision making process, like the problem solving process, are:
Informing the Client and Staff Members of Ethical Issues Affecting Client CareNurses have the responsibility to identify ethical issues that affect staff members and patients; and they also have the responsibility to inform staff members and affected clients of ethical issues that can and do affected client care. For example, providing nursing care for clients undergoing an abortion may raise ethical and moral concerns and issues for some nurses; and some patients may be affected with a liver transplant rejection because donor livers are not abundant enough to meet the needs of all patients who request it. Although a rare occasions, a patient may, at times, ask you to do something that is not ethical. For example, a patient may ask a nurse to assist in their suicide at the end their life or they may inquire about another patient in terms of their diagnosis. When something like this occurs, the nurse must inform the client that they cannot do it for ethical and legal reasons. Clients may also need information about ethics can affect the care that they choose or reject. For example, a client may ask the nurse about whether or not it is permissible ethically and legally to reject CPR at the end of life or to take pain medications even if it hastens their death. Practicing In a Manner Consistent with The American Nurses Association's Code of Ethics and Other Ethical CodesAs previously discussed, nurses are expected to apply the ethical guidelines provided in the American Nurses Association's Code of Ethics, the American Medical Association's Code of Ethics, the World Medical Association's Code of Ethics, the American Nurses Association's Standards of Care and Standards of Practice, American Nurses Association's position papers such as that which describes the ethical use of narcotic analgesics at the end of life even if this medication hastens death, state board of nursing declaratory statements, and the International Nurses Association's Code of Ethics. The American Nurses Association's Code of Ethics, for example, contains elements that emphasize and speak to advocacy, collaboration with others, the maintenance of client safety, the dignity and worth of all human beings, the prohibition of any discrimination, accountability, the preservation of patient rights, such as dignity, autonomy and confidentiality, and the provision of competent, safe and high quality care of nursing care. Evaluating the Outcomes of Interventions to Promote Ethical PracticeAs with all other aspects of nursing care, the outcomes of the interventions to promote ethical practice are evaluated and measured. Some of the evaluation criteria that can be used to determine and evaluate the outcomes of the interventions to promote ethical practice can include one or more of the following:
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Alene Burke, RN, MSN Alene Burke RN, MSN is a nationally recognized nursing educator. She began her work career as an elementary school teacher in New York City and later attended Queensborough Community College for her associate degree in nursing. She worked as a registered nurse in the critical care area of a local community hospital and, at this time, she was committed to become a nursing educator. She got her bachelor’s of science in nursing with Excelsior College, a part of the New York State University and immediately upon graduation she began graduate school at Adelphi University on Long Island, New York. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Adelphi with a double masters degree in both Nursing Education and Nursing Administration and immediately began the PhD in nursing coursework at the same university. She has authored hundreds of courses for healthcare professionals including nurses, she serves as a nurse consultant for healthcare facilities and private corporations, she is also an approved provider of continuing education for nurses and other disciplines and has also served as a member of the American Nurses Association’s task force on competency and education for the nursing team members. Latest posts by Alene Burke, RN, MSN (see all) What are the 4 ethical principles?The Fundamental Principles of Ethics. Beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice constitute the 4 principles of ethics.
What are the 7 principles of ethics?This approach – focusing on the application of seven mid-level principles to cases (non-maleficence, beneficence, health maximisation, efficiency, respect for autonomy, justice, proportionality) – is presented in this paper.
Which ethical principle refers to the freedom of personal choice?The Principle of Autonomy. Autonomy is an American value. It is the ability to make decisions for oneself, also known as self-government. We hold great respect for individual rights and equate freedom with autonomy.
What does the principle of beneficence requires the nurse to do?Beneficence. Beneficence is defined as kindness and charity, which requires action on the part of the nurse to benefit others. An example of a nurse demonstrating this ethical principle is by holding a dying patient's hand.
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