2. Nursing Codes of Ethics
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The purpose of the Code of Professional Conduct for Nurses in
Australia is to:
1. Outline a set of minimum national standards of conduct members of the
nursing profession are expected to uphold;
2. Inform the community of the standards of professional conduct it can
expect nurses in Australia to uphold;
3. Provide consumer, regulatory, employing and professional bodies with a
basis for evaluating the professional conduct of nurses (NMBA, 2008).
Most professional ethical codes consider three principal areas:
Standards of professional competence
Standards of professional integrity
Standards of professional etiquette (Elder, Evans & Nizette, 2009, p.74).
3. Morals and Ethics
Morals: is similar to ethics and many
people use the two wards
interchangeably (closely associated with
the concept of ethics)
Derived from the Latin “mores”, means
custom or habit.
Morality: usually refers to an individual’s
personal standards of what is right and
wrong in conduct, character, and
attitude.
Morals: are based on religious beliefs
and social influence and group norms
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4. Morals and Ethics (continue)
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Ethics is a branch of philosophy (the study of beliefs and assumptions)
referred to as moral philosophy.
Derived from the Greek word “ethos” which means customs, habitual
usage, conduct and character.
Ethics: usually refers to the practices, beliefs, and standards of behavior
of a particular group such as nurses. It also refers to the method of
inquiry that assists people to understood the morality of human behavior
(study of morality)
5. Morals and Ethics (continue)
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In both, we describe the behaviour we observe as good, right, desirable,
honourable, fitting or proper or we might describe the behaviour as bad,
wrong, improper, irresponsible, or evil. These perceptions are based on
values.
There are times when a differences in values and decisions can be
accepted
Differences in values and decisions put people into direct conflict.
What to do in such situation?
6. Morals and Ethics (resolving conflicts)
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Be constructive (rather than destructive) in the methods you choose to work
toward resolving the differences
Listen carefully without interruptions
Seek clarification using gentle questioning
Respect cultural differences
Be attentive to body language
Explain the context of your point of view and try to picture the other person’s
perspective of what you are saying
7. Comparison of morals and ethics
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Morals
Principles and rules of right
conduct
Private, and personal
Commitment to principles
and values is usually
defended in daily life
Pertain to an individual‘s
character
Ethics
Formal responding process used
to determine right conduct
Professionally and publicly
stated
Inquiry or study of principles
and values
Process of questioning, and
perhaps changing, one’s morals
Speaks to relationships between
human beings
8. Moral/ethical principles (concepts)
Are statements about broad,
general philosophic concepts
such as autonomy and justice
They provide the foundation
for moral values, which are
specific prescriptions for
actions (e.g. “people should
not lie” (rule) is based on the
moral principle of respect of
autonomy for people.
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10. Basic ethical concepts
Rights
Rights form the basis of most
professional codes and legal judgments
Self-determination rights
Rights and cultural relativism
Rights of the unborn
Rights of privacy and confidentiality
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11. Basic ethical concepts
Autonomy
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A person should have the right to make their own decisions, provided
these decisions do not violate other people's autonomy.
Involves the right of self-determination, independence, and
freedom.
It refers to the right to make one’s own decisions
Respect for autonomy means that nurses recognise the individual’s
uniqueness, the right to be what that person is, and the right to choose
personal goals
Nurses who follow the principle of autonomy respect a client's right to
make decisions even when those choices seem not to be in the client’s
best interest (Elder, Evans & Nizette, 2009, p.74).
12. Basic ethical concepts
Autonomy….. (continue)
Respect for people also means treating others with consideration
In the clinical setting, this principle is violated when a nurse disregards
client's subjective accounts of their symptoms (e.g. pain)
Patients should give informed consent before tests and procedures are
carried out
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13. Basic ethical concepts
Beneficence and Nonmaleficence
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Beneficence: means “doing good”
Beneficence in regard to nursing research or clinical careimplies that what is conducted is good for the well being of
the person. Beneficence is the deliberate bringing about of
positive action or intervention (Elder, Evans & Nizette, 2009,
p. 74).
Nurses should implement actions that benefit clients and
their support persons. However, in an increasing technologic
health care system, doing good can also pose a risk of doing
harm (e.g. intensive exercise program).
Nonmaleficence: means the duty to do no harm.
Nonmaleficence means above all to do ‘no harm’ and implies
both the duty of care to avoid actual harm as well as to
consider the risks of any potential harm (Elder, Evans &
Nizette, 2009, p.74).
This is the basis of most codes of nursing ethics.
Harm can mean deliberate harm, risk of harm, and
unintentional harm.
In nursing, intentional harm is always unacceptable.
The risk of harm is not always clear
A client may be at risk of harm during a nursing intervention
that is intended to be helpful (e.g. medication)
14. Basic ethical concepts
Justice
Justice- refers to what society's expectation are of what is fair
and right. The characteristics of justice imply that equality,
access and no evidence of subordination exist (Elder, Evans &
Nizette, 2009, p. 74).
Is often referred to as fairness
Nurses frequently face decisions in which a sense of justice
should prevail (succeed)
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15. Basic ethical concepts
Fidelity
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Fidelity means to be faithful to agreements and
responsibilities one has undertaken
Nurses have responsibilities to clients, employers,
government, society, the profession, and themselves
Circumstances often affect which responsibilities take
precedence at a particular time
16. Basic ethical concepts
Veracity
Veracity refers to telling the truth
As a nurse should I tell the truth when it is known
that doing so will cause harm?
Should I lie to dying people?
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