This document defines key concepts in nursing ethics including ethics, bioethics principles, nursing ethics, codes of ethics, and the ICN code of ethics. It outlines the principles of bioethics which guide ethical nursing practice: autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, justice, fidelity, veracity, accountability, privacy, confidentiality, and responsibility. The document also describes the four elements that make up the ICN code of ethics: nurses and people, nurse and practice, nurses and the profession, and nurses and co-workers.

1. Learning Objectives
1. Define ethic.
2. Enumerate principles of bio ethics.
3. Explain ICN code of ethics.

2. Ethics
Ethics is a systematic study of the principles of
right and wrong conduct, virtue and vice, and
good and evil as they relate to conduct and
human flourishing.
"Ethics refers to moral code for nursing and is based
on the obligation to service and respect to human
life.
-Melanie and Evelyn
"Ethics is the science of moral duty or ideal human
behaviour.
- Webster Dictionary

3. Nursing Ethics
Nursing ethics is the formal study of ethical
issues that arise in the practice of nursing and
of the analysis used by nurses to make and
evaluate ethical judgments.

4. Code of Ethics
Code of ethics is a set of ethical principles that
are accepted by all members of a profession.
Code of ethics act as guide for nurses to carry
out high quality nursing care

5. Principles of Bioethics
Ethics
Autonomy Non
maleficence
Beneficence
justice
Fidelity
Veracity
Accountabili
ty
Privacy
Confidentiali
ty
Responsibility

6. Principles of Bioethics
Autonomy: Autonomy is the right of self determination
or freedom to make choices. It refers to patient's right
to make decision concerning his/ her healthcare.
Nurses should respect patient's right to make decisions
about their health care
Nonmaleficence: Nonmaleficence is avoiding harm to
patients. Harm can be either intentional or
unintentional.
Beneficence: Beneficence refers to doing good and right
things for the patient. It includes taking positive actions
to help others. Nurses have the responsibility to
implement good things for the patients

7. Principles of Bioethics
Justice: Justice refers to treating all patients fairly and
equally. Nurses must be fair when they render their
services and care to patients. Care must be equally and
fairly distributed among patients.
Fidelity: It involves faithfulness, loyalty, and honoring
commitments. It healthcare professionals loyalty and
faithfulness to their professional responsibilities and
agreements to provide quality care to patients. Nurses
should be faithful and fair in fulfilling their
responsibilities and obligations. Fidelity requires nurses
to treat all patients with respect.

8. Principles of Bioethics
• Veracity: This principle is concerned with being
honest and telling truth. Nurses must honestly
represent client's perspective and wishes. Nurses
need to communicate realistic picture clearly to
the patients and families to prevent
misunderstandings whenever possible
Accountability: It is defined being answerable to
oneself and others for one's own actions. It
means being accountable for our practice, work
environment, and patient safety.

9. Principles of Bioethics
Responsibility : lt is the obligation to perform
duties and role assigned using scientific
knowledge and professional judgment.
Confidentiality: It is the right of the patient to
have all personal and healthcare information
to be kept in confidence

10. INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF NURSES
Code of Ethics
• The ICN Code of Ethics for Nurses has four
principal elements that outline the standards
of ethical conduct.
ICN Code of
Ethics
Nurses and
People
Nurse and
Practice
Nurses and
the Profession
Nurses and Co
workers

11. ICN Code of Ethics
1. Nurses and People:
• The nurses ' primary responsibility is to provide
required nursing care to people .
• In providing care ,the nurse promotes an
environment in which the human rights, values,
customs, and spiritual beliefs of the individual,
family, and community are respected.
• The nurse ensures that the individual receives
accurate , sufficient and timely information in a
culturally appropriate manner on which to base
consent for care and related treatment.

12. ICN Code of Ethics
1. Nurses and People:
• The nurse holds in confidence personal information
and uses Judgment in sharing this information.
• The nurse shares with society the responsibility for
initiating and supporting action to meet the health
and social needs of the public , in particular, those of
vulnerable populations.
• The nurse advocates for equity and social justice in
resource allocation , access to health care, and other
social and economic services.
• The nurse demonstrates professional values

13. ICN Code of Ethics
2. Nurse and Practice
The Nurse carries personal responsibility and
accountability for nursing practice and for
maintaining competence by continues learning.
The nurse maintains a standard of personal health such
that life ability to provide care is not compromised.
The uses judgement regarding individual competence
when accepting and delegating responsibility

14. ICN Code of Ethics
2. Nurse and Practice
The nurse at all times maintains standard of personal
conduct which reflect well on the profession and
enhance public confidence
The nurse in providing care ensures that the use of
technology and scientific advance are compatible
with the safety, dignity and rights of people.

15. ICN Code of Ethics
3. Nurses and the Profession
• The nurse assumes the major role in determining and
implementing acceptable standards of clinical
nursing practice, management ,research and
education
• The nurse is active in developing a core of research-
based professional knowledge .
• The nurse, acting through the professional
organization , participates in creating and
maintaining safe, equitable ,social , and economic
working conditions in nursing .

16. ICN Code of Ethics
3. Nurses and the Profession
• The nurse practices to sustain and protect the
natural environment and is aware of its
consequences on health
• The nurse contributes to an ethical organizational
environment and challenge s unethical practices and
settings .

17. ICN Code of Ethics
4. Nurses and Coworkers
• The nurse sustains a cooperative relationship with
coworkers in nursing and other fields .
• The nurse takes appropriate action to safeguard
individuals families , and communities when their
health is endangered by a coworker or any other
person .
• The nurse takes appropriate action to support and
guide coworkers to advance ethical conduct.

18. REFERENCES
1. Kathwal J. Textbook f Nursing Foundation. Mohali
Punjab: Vision Health Sciences Publishers; 2021. p
29-42.
2. Taylor C, Lynn P, Bartlett J L. Fundamentals of
Nursing The Art and Science of Person Centered
Care. South Asian Edition. New Delhi:Wolters
Kluwer;2021. p 27-49.

19. Thank You All