This document presents 10 moral maxims for nursing students related to health care ethics. Each maxim is presented individually and discussed in 2-3 sentences. The maxims focus on treating patients with compassion, remembering how nurses make patients feel even if their name is forgotten, treating the whole person and not just the disease, having patience with impatient patients, showing kindness, respecting patients, finding passion in nursing beyond titles or applause, facing challenges to become strong, valuing one's work, and using the maxims for guidance. The student nurse finds the maxims helpful for decision making and molding values as a novice in the field.

1. moral max ims m arc h 2 0 2 3
C SPC - B SN 2 C
m oral m ax im s
Ncm 108: health care ethics (bioethics)
D annic a R o s e R . F abil l ar , S N
( psub - BSN 2C)
M A'am m ar ia V is it ac io n t abu r n al , ph d
( c lin ic al in struc tor)

2. Nurse dispense comfort,
compassion, and caring
without even a
prescription.
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HEALTH CARE ETHICS

3. THEY MAY FORGET YOUR
NAME, BUT THEY WILL
NEVER FORGET HOW YOU
MADE THEM FEEL.
Every individual has their own way of showing love to their loved ones
or even to other people. There are many ways in which we can show
them or provide the quality of care that everyone deserves. It might
be through physical touch, gestures, facial expressions, or even
verbally. In this moral maxim, it says that when you do good deeds or
show other people respect, they will remember those things even
though they might forget your name; at least they will remember how
you spend your time with them as you provide nursing interventions.
MORAL MAXIM NO. 2
HEALTH CARE ETHICS

4. You treat a disease,you win, youlose.
You treat a person,I guarantee
you,you’llwin, no matter
what the outcome.
As a part of health care, we can't promise that in every duty we can do
perfect work or follow all procedures that we have done. We will be
facing different battles and struggles along our shift, whether it's easy,
challenging, or tiring. We might also encounter many ethical dilemmas
that will challenge our decision-making. We might see or handle many
critical cases that will challenge our abilities and values as nurses. We
might encounter some operations or surgeries that are not successful,
to the point that you want to cry because you have been there
throughout his or her treatment period. But those challenges are just a
test from God for you, and in the end, there is always great experience
and a lesson to be learned from those challenges, which will surely
help you in the near future as you go along with your chosen career
path.
HEALTH CARE ETHICS
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5. "BE PATIENT
WITH PATIENTS
WHO ARE NOT
PATIENT."
Having patience is a virtue, which is why a person who has it will be able to manage a tough
task because it simply means "calm perseverance." A person who has this kind of trait can
complete given tasks on time and without any complaints. As a future nurse, we should have
this kind of trait because it might be a big help for us when we are going to work and
associating with different patients, and we all know that every individual has their own
differences, and for sure, there are patients that don't have patience, especially when they
don't want to be interviewed for a longer period of time. Furthermore, this saying teaches us to
be kind and respectful to every patient we might encounter or talk to someday or even today.
m o r al m axim N o . 4

6. HEALTH CARE ETHICS
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7. As future nurses, we should learn the meaning of respect, kindness, and love
because these words are the best outcomes for providing better care or results
for patients. Having a soft heart tends nurses to balance their job and
relationship with their patients. Having this kind of trait will help you become a
better nurse in the future, and kindness will prevail with you. Having a temper
that never tires is more likely, and having patience is a virtue because we
should respect when there are patients that can't verbalize their feelings during
an assessment or interview in a short period of time. Having a touch that never
hurts simply means your way of providing with your patient is not just about the
skills but also how you show your love for them and always having faith in God
because He is always there by your side to assist and guide you in every
procedure that you are doing.
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8. An act of providing holistic care and kindness to every
patient never goes to waste. It is like a mirror: what you
show and feel will reflect in your and his behavior. Being
kind to others provides a positive feeling and makes this
world a better place to live, even if they are sick or have
disabilities. If you are kind to them, they will always want
to smile and look forward to a better life, and they will
accept their conditions wholeheartedly.
m o r al m axim N o . 7
HEALTH CARE ETHICS

9. Getting the title of "nurse is not just about
having the letters "RN" at the end of your name;
it should be your passion for why you have
taken this job. Work for a cause, not for
compliments or applause. Live a life that never
stops practicing and expressing their good
service with regards to health care. Work
genuinely and with full enthusiasm, not to
impress others but to motivate them to
become a great nurse someday.
HEALTH CARE ETHICS
m oral m axim N o. 8

10. Your hardest times often
lead to the greatest
moments of your life. Keep
going. Tough situations build
strong people in the end.
HEALTH CARE ETHICS
m oral m axim N o. 9

11. In everything you do, take it as a new achievement in life. Being enthusiastic about
what you are doing leads to great rewards for you as a person and as a nurse. Be
happy with what you do, and don't forget to smile always, even in tough times. Accept
all the challenges because they surely have a wonderful gift at the end of your battles
and struggles. Be humble and kind at all times because these lead to a positive
reflection of your chosen career path.
VALUE WHAT YOU DO
AND ADD VALUE BY
WHAT YOU DO.
MORAL MAXIM NO. 10
HEALTH CARE ETHICS

12. FABillar, DannicaROSER.
Student
nurse
BSN 2C
dafabillar@my.cspc.edu.ph
As an advanced beginner—or I can say that I am still a novice—with regards to the career that
I chose—nursing—these moral maxims serve as my guidance throughout the day. They play an
important role in my life because they are a reflection of my actions as a student nurse. These
quotes enlightened my soul and molded my values as well as my virtues in life, which I can impart
to future generations. Even in a difficult situation or in tough times inside or outside the
healthcare settings, these moral maxims are always there to help me make right decisions easier
without hesitating with regards to what is right from what is wrong, in the sense that I am like in a
safe zone or, more likely, with the guidance of Almighty God that leads me to my right path in
creating my own decisions in life.