Ethics Flashcards
Ethical standards of nursing:
- standards relating to the rights of client and their families.
- ex: the right to privacy
Morality
-private beliefs or standard of what is right and wrong in conduct,character and attitude.
Indicators of moral issues:
- awareness of feelings such as guilt, hope or shame.
- the tendency to respond to the situation with words such as “ought”, “should”,”right”,”wrong”,”good”
The concern of moral issues:
Important social values and Norms.
They are not about trivial things.
Differences between morals and laws
-laws reflect the moral values of a society and they offer guidance in determining what is moral, however an action can be legal but not moral
Advocate
- One who expresses and defends the cause of another.
- The nurse advocates for the clients best interest based on the clients values not based on the nurses own ethical or moral values.
Values
-Personal beliefs about truth and worth of behaviors,thoughts and objects.
Beliefs
-An interpretation or conclusion that one accepts as true.
Personal values are developed …
Through individual observation and experience and may be heavily influenced by social traditions and the cultural, ethnic and religious norms experienced within the family and associated groups.
How do nurses acquire professional values?
By socialization into the nursing profession by nursing school faculty and other nurses, clinical and life experiences and by following established professional code of ethics.
Values clarification
- important in client centered care
- process of consciously identifying, examining and developing individual values.
- helps nurses learn how to identify client values.
- helps nurses distinguish client values from there own.
- an ongoing process throughout life.
5 values identified by the AACN that are essential for nurses
- Altruism
- autonomy
- human dignity
- integrity
- social justice
Altruism
- A concern for the welfare and well being of others.
- Reflected in the nurses concern for welfare of clients, other nurses and other healthcare providers.
Autonomy
- The right to self determination.
- shown in nursing when nurse respects clients rights to make decisions about their health care.
Human Dignity
- Inherent worth and uniqueness of individuals and populations.
- demonstrated by the nurse who values all clients and colleagues.
Integrity
- acting in accordance with appropriate code of ethics and accepted standards of practice.
- shown in professional practice when nurse is honest and provides care based on an ethical framework that is accepted within the profession. Ex: American nurses code of ethics
Social justice
- upholding of justice and what is fair on a social scale.
- nurses do this by treating everyone the same without any regard to age, economic status,ethnicity, citizenship,disability or sexual orientation.
Ethical care
Requires managing common client care such as pain control for surgical client, client teaching,assuring confidence,and assuring clients right to self determination.
What should the nurse do when the client has conflicting values?
-use values clarification as an intervention.
Ethics
- A system of moral principles or standards governing behaviors and relationships that is based on professional nursing beliefs and values.
- concerned with motives and attitudes and the relationship of these attitudes to the individual.
- the study and development of the ethical standards of an individual,community or profession.
If a client asks a nurse “what would you do in my situation”? What is the best way the respond?
Redirect question, do not answer from personal viewpoint
What are some behaviors that may indicate unclear values?
- ignoring a health professionals advice
- inconsistent communication or behavior
- numerous admissions to a health agency for the same problem
- confusion or uncertainty about which course of action to take
Processes that may help clients verify values:
- list alternatives
- examine possible consequences of choices
- choose freely
- feel good about the choice
- affirm the choice
- act on choice
- act with a pattern
PRINCIPLES OF ETHICAL DECISION MAKING
- autonomy
- beneficence
- justice
- veracity
Beneficence
-actions should promote good
Nonmaleficence-requires nurse do no harm and safeguard client.
Risk of harm weighed against potential benefit
Veracity
Telling the truth
Accurate and timely documenting
Principle behind giving information for informed consent
American nurses association code of ethics for nurses serves as :
- statement of ethical obligations and duties of nurse
- professions nonnegotiable ethical standard
- nursing professions statement of commitment to society
Laws reflect
Moral values of a society
Nurses have an ethical responsibility to :
Be a client advocate
Advocate
One who expresses and defends the cause of another
Processes that may help clients clarify values
List alternatives
Examine possible consequences
Choose freely
Feel good about the choice
Affirm the choice
Act on the choice
Act with a pattern
Nurses rarely ever offer an opinion, when client asks nurses need to
Redirect question back to client
Nonmaleficence
Requires nurses do no harm and safeguard clients
Risk of harm weighed against potential benefit
Justice
Upholding of what is just
Codes of ethics
General guide for a professions membership
Social contract with public
Nightingale pledge considered first code of ethics in USA
American nurses association code of ethics for nurses serves as
Statement of ethical obligations and duties of nurse
Professions nonnegotiable ethical standard
Nursing professions statement of commitment to society
Needs to be read and reread
The joint commission mandates that
Healthcare institutions have written guidelines
Options for clients who feel their rights have been violated
Patient advocates in hospitals and large provider agencies
Many states have offices to assist clients with issues related to patients rights in long term care
States department of health may provide help
Nurses who engage in ethics:
Follow ANA code of ethics
Employers policies and procedures
Employ values clarification exercises as needed
Make use of additional resources
A good decision is one that:
Is in the clients best interest and at the same time preserves the integrity of all individuals involved.
Nurses have ethical obligations to:
Their clients, the agency that employs them and to primary care providers
Ethical dilemma
Exists when two or more rights values obligations or responsibilities come in conflict.
Bioethics
Refers to ethics as applied to human life or health
Advanced directives
Legal documents representing a clients end of life decisions, they may include how clients want medical decisions made or whom they would like to make the decisions.
Instruct caregivers as to the clients wishes about treatments , providing an ongoing voice for client when they do not have one
