Introduction to Nursing Ethics

Question 1

What are the different levels of nursing ethics?

Answer 1

• moral judgments
• codes of ethics and laws
• moral principles and ideals
• ethical theories

Question 2

Give an example for each level of nursing ethics.

Answer 2

• moral judgments (these are individual)
• codes of ethics and laws (Canadian nurses association code of ethics)
• moral principles and ideals (beneficence, autonomy, truthfulness, confidentiality, justice, integrity… derived from ethical theories)
• ethical theories (critical reflections on moral evaluations of right and wrong, ex. deontology, utilitarianism)

Question 3

How do the different levels of ethics relate to each other?

Answer 3

they range from the abstract (ethical theories) to the specific (moral judgments) and build on each other (ex. moral principles and ideals are derived from moral principles)

Question 4

What are the three levels of moral judgment identified by Thomas and Waluchow?

Answer 4

1) expressive judgment
2) pre-reflective judgments
3) reflective judgments

Question 5

What are expressive judgments?

Answer 5

unanalyzed judgments that have no justification or reasoning

Question 6

What are pre-reflective judgments?

Answer 6

judgments made with reference to conventional values, rules, etc. that are accepted uncritically (ex. blinding following code of ethics without thinking about it)

Question 7

What are reflective judgments?

Answer 7

judgments that based on principles, rule, values we consciously subscribe to and for which we are prepared to offer a reason

Question 8

Why are codes of ethics, workplace policy and law not enough to settle moral issues in nursing?

Answer 8

• they do not give us answers
• they often conflict with one another
• they do not offer us reasons