This document discusses key concepts in nursing ethics including ethics, values, morals, ethical principles of autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, and justice. It defines a code of ethics and the primary values in nursing practice, which are providing safe, compassionate, competent and ethical care, promoting health and well-being, promoting and respecting informed decision-making, preserving dignity, maintaining privacy and confidentiality, promoting justice, and being accountable. It also outlines the six standards of nursing practice and provides a framework for processing ethical dilemmas.

1. Ethical Issues in Nursing Mr.SATHISH Rajamani M.Sc (N) Lecturer Annai Meenakshi College of Nursing Coimbatore

3. Objectives Terms: Ethics, Bioethics, Values, Morals Ethical principles Code of Ethics and primary values Nursing Standards definition 6 standards of nursing practice Framework for processing an ethical dilemma

4. Values and ethics Values and ethics are inherent in all nursing acts. A value is a strong personal belief; an ideal that a person strives to uphold. Your values reflect cultural and social influences, relationships and personal needs. Vary among people and develop and change over time.

5. What is Ethics? Branch of philosophy concerned with determining right and wrong in relation to people’s decisions and actions. Morals and ethics are often used interchangeably but morals are often stated as private, personal standards of what is right and wrong, ethics reflect a commitment to standards beyond personal preferences.

6. Nursing Ethics An expression of how nurses ought to conduct themselves. Refers to ethical standards that govern and guide nurses in everyday practice such as “being truthful with clients” “respecting client confidentiality” and “advocating on behalf of the client.”

7. Ethical Principles Autonomy Nonmaleficence Beneficence Justice

8. Ethical Principles Autonomy - refers to a person’s independence, self-determination, self-reliance. A patient has the right to make decisions about her/her care. Ex. Signing a consent form for surgery

9. Ethical Principles Nonmaleficience - refers to the avoidance of causing any harm to clients. Try to balance the risks and benefits of a plan of care, while striving to do no harm. Ex: bone marrow transplant promises to bring a cure but there may be a long period of pain and suffering.

10. Ethical Principles Beneficence - means promoting good or doing good for others. Take positive steps to help others. It helps to guide difficult decisions where the benefits of a treatment maybe challenged by the risk to the client’s well-being or dignity. The best interests of the client must be upheld. Ex: immunization

11. Ethical Principles Justice- refers to fairness or equity. Clients need to be treated in a manner that they deserve. Ex. Both clients receive the same treatment when being admitted for surgery, fair resources etc.

12. What does a code of ethics do? Gives guidance for decision making about ethical matters by providing a set of values that are basic to nursing practice.

13. The Code of Ethics Provide rules of ethical or moral behavior for every circumstance. Offer guidance about which values should take priority or how they can be balanced in practice.

14. Values and The Code of Ethics Primary values that are central to ethical nursing practice. The 7 values include: Providing safe, Compassionate competent and Ethical care, Promoting health and well-being, Promoting and respecting informed decision-making, Maintaining privacy and confidentiality, Promoting justice and being accountable

15. Providing Safe, Compassionate Competent and Ethical Care Nurses value the ability to provide safe, compassion, competent and ethical care that allows them to fulfill their ethical and professional obligations to the people they serve.

16. Promoting Health and Well Being Nurses value health promotion and well being and assist persons to achieve their optimum level of health in situations of normal health, illness, injury, disability or at the end of life.

17. Promoting and Respecting Informed Decision-Making Nurses provide persons with appropriate information and services so they can make informed decisions. Ensure nursing care is given with informed consent

18. Preserving Dignity Recognize and respect the inherent worth of each person and advocate for respectful treatment of all persons.

19. Maintaining Privacy and Confidentiality Nurses safeguard the trust of clients that information learned in the context of a professional relationship is shared outside the health care team only with the clients permission or as legally required or where failure to disclose would cause significant harm.

20. Promoting Justice Nurses apply and promote principles of equity and fairness to assist clients in receiving unbiased treatment (social justice) and a share of health services and resources proportionate to their needs. Safeguard human rights.

21. Being Accountable Nurses act in a manner consistent with their professional responsibilities and standards of practice and are answerable for their practice.

22. Definition of Nursing Standards Describes the desirable and achievable level of performance expected of registered nurses in their practice against which performance can be measured Benchmark for assessing the professional conduct of all registered nurses.

23. Six Standards of Nursing Practice Accountability Continuing Competence Application of Knowledge, Skills and Judgment Professional Relationships and Advocacy Professional Leadership Self-Regulation

24. Standard 1 and 11 Accountability Accountable to the public to ensure that clients receive competent, safe, and ethical care. Continuing Competence The registered nurse attains and maintains competence relevant to their own scope of nursing practice

25. Standard III, IV Application of Knowledge, Skills and Judgment The registered nurse demonstrates competencies relevant to their own scope of nursing practice. Professional Relationships and Advocacy Establishes a professional therapeutic relationship and is an advocate for clients.

26. Standard V, VI Professional Leadership Demonstrates leadership when providing quality nursing care and health care services to clients . Self-Regulation Personally accountable to practice nursing in a competent and ethical manner .

27. Ethical Decision Making Process Guide for ethical discussion within the context of health care practice. It incorporates theories, principles and codes into the decision making process. An ethical dilemma often forces a choice between one or more ethical principles Deciding in favor of one principle can often violate another principle There is often no clear answer/decision in resolving ethical dilemmas Often ethical dilemmas pose more questions than provide answers

28. How to Process an Ethical Dilemma 1) Is this an ethical dilemma? 2) Gather all the information relevant to the case 3) Examine and determine your own values on the case 4) Verbalize the problem 5) Consider possible courses of action 6) Negotiate the outcome 7) Evaluate the action

29. Summary Terms: Ethics, Values, Morals Ethical principles Code of Ethics and primary values Nursing Standards definition 6 standards of nursing practice Framework for processing an ethical dilemma

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