Ethical Principles
A competent patient refuses a recommended blood transfusion, even though the healthcare team believes it is necessary. Which ethical principle supports the patient's right to decide?
What is autonomy?
This ethical theory emphasizes duties, rules, and moral obligations rather than focusing primarily on the outcome.
What is deontology?
According to the ANA Code of Ethics, this is the nurse's primary professional commitment.
What is the patient, whether an individual, family, group, community, or population?
A nurse follows a patient's valid refusal of treatment, even though the nurse personally disagrees with the decision. Is this primarily an example of an ethical principle, a legal issue, or both?
What is both ethical and legal?
A nurse administers prescribed pain medication to relieve a patient's suffering. Which ethical principle is demonstrated?
What is beneficence?
A nurse supports a policy that produces the greatest overall benefit for the greatest number of people. Which ethical theory is being applied?
What is utilitarianism?
A nurse speaks up when a patient is unable to communicate concerns about an unsafe treatment plan. What professional nursing role is demonstrated?
What is patient advocacy?
A nurse knows what action would be ethically appropriate but feels unable to take it because of institutional pressure or constraints. What is this experience called?
What is moral distress?
A nurse questions an unsafe medication dose before administering it to prevent harm to a patient. Which ethical principle is being applied?
What is nonmaleficence?
This ethical approach emphasizes character traits such as honesty, compassion, courage, and integrity when deciding how to act.
What is virtue ethics?
A nurse recognizes that a patient's dignity is being disregarded and intervenes to protect the patient's rights. Which ANA Code of Ethics provision most directly addresses the nurse's primary commitment to the recipient of nursing care?
What is Provision 1?
A nurse is instructed to discharge a patient who appears clinically unstable. The nurse expresses concerns, requests reassessment, and escalates the issue through the chain of command. What professional responsibility is the nurse demonstrating?
What is patient advocacy and accountability for patient safety?
Two patients need the same limited resource. The nurse uses fair, clinically appropriate criteria rather than personal preferences to determine who receives it first. Which ethical principle is demonstrated?
What is justice?
A nurse considers the patient's relationships, vulnerability, individual needs, and the importance of compassion when making a difficult decision. Which ethical theory does this reflect?
What is care ethics?
A nurse observes a colleague repeatedly practicing in a way that threatens patient safety. The nurse follows appropriate reporting procedures to protect patients. Which ANA Code of Ethics provision addresses the nurse's responsibility to promote, advocate for, and protect the rights, health, and safety of patients?
What is Provision 3?
A nurse documents an assessment that was never performed. Why is this more than an ethical concern?
What is a potential legal and professional violation involving false documentation?
A nurse tells a patient the truth about a medication error rather than concealing it. Which ethical principle supports honesty and truth-telling?
What is veracity?
A nurse evaluates a difficult situation by considering autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice together. What ethical approach is the nurse using?
What is principlism?
A nurse faces an ethical concern, attempts to resolve it through appropriate channels, and seeks help from an ethics committee when the issue remains unresolved. What professional responsibility does this demonstrate?
What is ethical advocacy and escalation?
A nurse believes a treatment plan conflicts with the patient's wishes but is unsure how to proceed. The nurse reviews the patient's preferences, identifies the ethical conflict, consults the healthcare team, and considers involving the ethics committee. What process is the nurse using?
What is ethical decision-making?