Ethical Principles in Action
A patient refuses a blood transfusion due to religious beliefs. The nurse educates them about the risks but honors the decision. What ethical principle is this?
Autonomy
A nurse always treats patients respectfully, even when they’re rude or difficult. What moral quality does this show?
Moral integrity
A nurse feels something is ethically wrong with a policy but isn’t sure what action to take. What form of moral conflict is this?
Moral uncertainty
A nurse manager explains the importance of the ANA Code of Ethics to new hires. What is the purpose of this code?
Guides ethical conduct and professional self-regulation
A nurse refuses to assist with a procedure they believe violates their moral beliefs but ensures patient safety before leaving. What concept is this?
Conscientious objection
A nurse advocates for a patient with limited mobility to get a new pressure-relief mattress. What ethical principle is demonstrated?
Beneficence
A nurse has strong personal beliefs about end-of-life care but still provides compassionate care to a patient choosing assisted dying. What professional skill allows this?
Professional values/self-awareness
A nurse knows a patient is being discharged too early but is told not to question the doctor’s order. The nurse feels guilt and helplessness. What is this called?
Moral distress
A nurse’s primary commitment is questioned when balancing a patient’s needs with the unit’s staffing demands. According to the Code of Ethics, who is the nurse’s primary commitment to?
The patient
Two nurses engage in gossip about a coworker. The behavior creates tension on the unit. What type of ethical issue is this?
Incivility or lateral violence
During medication administration, a nurse double-checks all dosages to prevent harm. Which ethical principle guides this action?
Nonmaleficence
A new nurse feels torn between following a senior nurse’s poor infection control practice or speaking up. What ethical conflict is being experienced?
Moral distress
A nurse refuses to falsify documentation even after being pressured by management. What ethical trait is being demonstrated?
Moral courage
A nurse leader advocates for fair scheduling and pay equity among staff. Which ethical principle is being upheld?
Justice
A nurse witnesses a colleague falsifying a patient’s vitals. What is the correct ethical response?
Report unsafe or questionable practice
Two patients arrive in the ED—one with a sprained ankle, one with a heart attack. The nurse prioritizes the patient in greater need. Which principle is applied?
Justice
A nurse leader recognizes their cultural bias during a staff dispute and takes time to reflect on it. What process are they demonstrating?
Values clarification
A nurse remains committed to ethical care despite repeated exposure to moral distress and burnout. What concept describes this sustained integrity?
Moral resilience
A hospital ethics committee meets to review a case involving organ donation. Name one of its three main functions.
Policy review, ethics education, or case consultation
A nurse smells alcohol on a coworker’s breath before medication rounds. What ethical duty does the nurse have?
Protect patients, report impaired practice
A nurse tells a patient that their prognosis has worsened, despite knowing it will upset them. What principle supports this honesty?
Veracity
Name three of the five ANA professional core values that guide nurses in ethical leadership.
Altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, social justice
List the five steps of the ethical decision-making process in order.
Identify problem → Gather facts → Consider stakeholders → Identify options → Implement decision
A nurse leader enforces a zero-tolerance policy for bullying and promotes transparency. What ethical leadership responsibility is being fulfilled?
Maintaining a safe, ethical work environment
A terminally ill patient chooses to stop life-sustaining treatment, but the family demands that all measures continue. Whose autonomy must the nurse respect?
The patient’s autonomy