Fundamentals Chapter 22 Flashcards
Define Ethics
is the study of conduct and character.Acts that are ethical reflect a commitment to standards beyond personal preferences.
How is autonomy applied in healthcare?
autonomy refers to the commitment to include patients in decisions about all aspects of care as a way of acknowledging and protecting a patient’s independence
What is Beneficence?
taking positive actions to help others
What is the principle of beneficence in the practice of nursing and medicine?
beneficence implies that the best interests of the patient remain more important than self-interest. It implies that nurses practice primarily as a service to others, even in the details of daily work.
What is nonmaleficence?
the avoidance of harm or hurt. In health care, ethical practice involves not only the will to do good, but the equal commitment to do no harm.
How is Justice applied in healthcare?
The term is most often used in discussions about access to health care resources, including the just distribution of resources. Discussions about health insurance, hospital locations and services, even organ transplants generally refer to issues of justice.
How does fidelity apply to nursing?
the agreement to keep promises. As a nurse you keep promises by following through on your actions and interventions. If you assess a patient for pain and offer a plan to manage the pain, the standard of fidelity encourages you to monitor the patient’s response to the plan.Fidelity also refers to the unwillingness to abandon patients even when care becomes controversial or complex.
What does Code of ethics mean?
set of guiding principles that all members of a profession accept. It is a collective statement about the group’s expectations and standards of behavior. Codes serve as guidelines to assist professional groups when questions arise about correct practice or behavior.
Who established the first code of nursing ethics?
The American Nurses Association (ANA) established the first code of nursing ethics decades ago. The ANA reviews and revises the code regularly to reflect changes in practice.
What does the word responsibility refer to?
refers to a willingness to respect one’s professional obligations and follow through on promises. As a nurse you are responsible for your actions and for the actions of those to whom you delegate tasks.
How does advocacy apply to you as a nurse?
As a nurse you advocate for the health, safety, and rights of patients, including their right to privacy. Your special relationship with patients provides you with knowledge that is specific to your role as a registered nurse and as such provides you the opportunity to make a unique contribution to understanding a patient’s point of view.
What does accountability refer to in healthcare?
refers to the ability to answer for one’s actions. You learn to ensure that your professional actions are explainable to your patients and your employer
How do Health Care institutions exercise accountability?
Health care institutions also exercise accountability by monitoring individual and institutional compliance with national standards established by agencies such as The Joint Commission (TJC) and the ANA. Compliance officers in most health care facilities provide compliance oversight.
What is HIPPA?
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act which mandates the protection of patients’ personal health information. The legislation defines the rights and privileges of patients for protection of privacy. It establishes fines for violations (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2011)
How to resolve ethical dilemmas
Ethical dilemmas almost always occur in the presence of conflicting values. To resolve ethical dilemmas one needs to distinguish among value, fact, and opinion. Sometimes people have such strong values that they consider them to be facts, not just opinion
