foundations of professional nursing discussion 2

Nursing Ethics

The Code of Ethics for Nurses of 2015, given by American Nurses Association (ANA), outlines the ethical basis for the nursing profession. It contains nine provisions, which cover the nurses' responsibilities toward the patients, maintenance of their personal professional growth, and their responsibilities to the profession and community.

Contemporary nurses face many ethical dilemmas in their nursing practice. Numerous examples related to ethical issues occur everyday in nursing practice. Nurses must have a plan for making ethical decisions.  Through the use of ethical theories and principles, nurses can make decisions based on respect for people.

Ethical theories

• Deontology – concerned with the end results, ends justifies the means
• Utilitarianism – concerned with rules, policies, standards
• Virtue ethics – focuses on the moral character of the person acting
• Principalism – following ethical principles

Ethical principles

• Autonomy – self-determination
• Beneficence – doing good
• Nonmaleficence – doing no harm
• Justice - fairness
• Fidelity – honoring commitments
• Veracity – truth- telling

Incorporating the theories and principles with a framework provides the nurse with a platform to evaluate and respond to ethical issues. There are a number of frameworks available to support the nurse in resolving ethical issues, one example is listed below. Steps you can take when dealing with ethical issues:

• Identify the issue.
• Gather information.
• Identify the persons who will be affected by any decisions to be taken.
• List the different courses of action in this situation.
• Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each course of action.
• Make the decision after weighing all the alternatives.

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