I. Ethico-Moral Nursing

7/28/2019 I. Ethico-Moral Nursing

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ETHICO-MORALNURSING

Jonathan M. Carretas, RN., LL.B. (ongoing)


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Ethics

o Etymologically, it derives its meaning from the

Greek word Ethos, which literally meanscustoms or particular behavior.o Is a practical science dealing with the morality

of the human acts or conduct. (Alora, 1997:7)

o It guides the intellect in the acquisition and

application of moral principles. The way to a

right moral decision. (Panizo, 1964:4)


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Ethics

o systematic inquiry into the principles of right

or wrong conduct, of virtue or vice, and ofgood and evil as they relate to conduct

morals, although similar in meaning to ethics,

usually refer to personal standards of right

and wrong in conduct, character, or attitude.


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Morality

o Conformity with recognized rules of correct

conduct. A system of duties. (Blacks Law

Dictionary)Moral Law

o A collection of principles defining right and

wrong conducto A standard to which an action must conform

to be right or virtuous. (Blacks Law

Dictionary)


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Ethical Nature of Nursing Practice

o That every nursing plan or health care action

or intervention of nurses to the patientinvolves a human person, his needs, values,

inner worth, and inherent human rights and

dignity.


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II. Ethical conduct essential to the practice of professional nursingdescribed in the nursing code of ethics

formal statement that determines the standards of conduct of a

professional nurse

The Nursing Code of Ethics reflects the following underlying moralprinciples:

i. Autonomy (the right to make ones own decisions)

ii. Nonmaleficence (duty to do no harm)

iii. Beneficence (doing good)

iv. Justice (fairness)

v. Fidelity (faithfulness to agreements and responsibilities one has

undertaken)

vi. Veracity (telling the truth)


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Functions of the nursing code of ethics

i. inform the public about the minimum standards of

the profession and to help them understand professional

nursing conduct

ii. to provide a sign of the professions commitment to

the public it serves

iii. to outline the major ethical considerations of the

profession

iv. to provide general guidelines for professional

behavior

v. to guide the profession in self-regulation

vi to remind nurses of the special responsibility they

assume when caring for the sick


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Ethical Principles

o The ethical principles provide a foundation for

nursing practice. Ethical principles are

defined as basis for nurses decisions on

consideration of consequences and of

universal moral principles when making

clinical judgments


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The most fundamental of these principles is therespect for persons.

The primary and basic ethical principles are the

following:

o Respect for autonomy

o Nonmaleficence

o Beneficience

o Justice


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The secondary ethical principles that can beincorporated with the primary principles when

interpreting ethical issues and making clinical

decisions are the following:

o Veracity

o Confidentiality

o Fidelity


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RESPECT FOR PERSONS

o According to the American NursesAssociation (ANA), the most fundamental

principle of professional behavior is the

respect for persons. This principle not only

applies to the clinical settings but to all lifessituations.

o This principle emphasizes that all people

should treat others as a worthy individual.

o In nursing practice this principle should be

simplified. Thus, respect for persons

generally means respecting a clients

autonomy.


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RESPECT FOR AUTONOMY

o Respecting a clients rights, values and choices is

synonymous to respecting a persons autonomy.

Informed consent is a method that promotes and

respects a persons autonomy.o For a client to make an autonomous decision and

action, he or she must be offered enough

information and options to make up his or her mind

free of coercion or external and internal influences.o In clinical settings, this is promoted by proving

informed consent to the client.


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NONMALEFICENCE

Nonmaleficence means duty to do no harm. This

is promoted by doing the following nursing

interventions:

o Avoiding deliberate harm, risk of harm thatoccurs during the performance of nursing

actions.

o Considering the degree of risk permissible.

o Determining whether the use of technological

advances provides benefits that outweigh risks.


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BENEFICENCE

o Beneficence is doing or active promotion of

good. This is done by:

o Providing health benefits to the clients.

o Balancing the benefits and risks of harm.

o Considering how a client can be best helped.


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JUSTICE

o Justice is the promotion of equity or fairness

in every situation a nurse encounters. The

following nursing implications promote justice:

o Ensuring fair allocation of resources.(example: appropriate staffing or mix of staff

to all clients)

o Determining the order in which clients should

be treated. (example: priority treatments for

the clients in pain)


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SECONDARY PRINCIPLES OF

ETHICAL CONDUCT

o Veracity duty to tell the truth

o Confidentiality duty to respect

privileged information

o Fidelity duty to keep promises


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Nursing as Caring

o based on relationships

o emphasizes courage, generosity, commitment,

and responsibility

o force for protecting and enhancing patient dignity

o uses touch and truth-telling to affirm patients as

persons rather than objects and to assist them to

make choices and find meaning in their illness


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ADVOCACY

It is protecting and supporting of another's

rights by pleading the case of another

Patient Advocatean individual who protects and supports the rights of a

patient by pleading the case of the patient


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Actions of Patient Advocates

i. Informing Patients

about their rights in a situation and providing them

with the information they need to make an

informed decision, e.g.:i. determining if the patient agrees to receiving

the information

ii. either having the necessary information orknowing how to get it


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Actions of Patient Advocates

iii. Wanting the patient to have the informationiv. Presenting the information in a way that is

meaningful to the patient

v. Dealing with the fact that there are those who

do not wish the patient to be informed if it is wrong

ii. Supporting Patients

in their decisions in an objective manner thatconveys neither approval or disapproval, even if the

nurse believes in his own opinion.

I. Ethico-Moral Nursing

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