2. Ethics in Nursing
What and why we learn from the
nursing ethics training
This course applies ethics in nursing practice
with the focus of discussion. The outline of
the concepts and specific content will be
addressed relative to the topic are listed
below. The core curriculum concepts will be
integrated into the course.
• Ethical theories (4)
• Ethical principles (6)
• Code of Ethics: 9 provisions
• Ethical dilemma
2
3. Ethical
Theories
Ethical principles: autonomy,
beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice,
veracity, and fidelity which promote
nurse-patient relationship and
commitment (McDermott-Levy et al., 2018).
There are 4 main types of ethical theories
(Noureddine, (2001):
• Deontology (Kantianism): is a high value on
duty/obligation
• Utilitarianism: consider a rightness or
wrongness of an action
• Intuitionism: based on truth in making an ethical
decision making
• Rights-based Theory: independence of
individual action
3
4. Code of Ethics
There are 9 provisions to guide professional nurses (Haddad & Geiger, 2020)
Provision 1: the nurse practices with
compassion and respect for the inherent dignity,
worth, and unique attributes of every person.
Provision 2: The nurse’s primary commitment is
to the patient, whether an individual, family,
group, community, or population.
Provision 3: The nurse promotes, advocates for,
and protects the rights, health, and safety of the
patient.
Provision 4: The nurse has authority,
accountability, and responsibility for nursing
practice; makes decisions; and takes action
consistent with the obligation to provide optimal
patient care.
Provision 5: The nurse owes the same duties to
self as to others, including the responsibility to
promote health and safety, preserve wholeness
of character and integrity, maintain competence,
and continue personal and professional growth.
Provision 6: The nurse, through individual and
collective effort, establishes, maintains, and
improves the ethical environment of the work setting
and conditions of employment that are conducive to
safe, quality health care.
Provision 7: The nurse, in all roles and settings,
advances the profession through research and
scholarly inquiry, professional standards
development, and the generation of both nursing
and health policy.
Provision 8: The nurse collaborates with other
health professionals and the public to protect
human rights, promote health diplomacy, and
reduce health disparities.
Provision 9: The profession of nursing, collectively
through its professional organization, must articulate
nursing values, maintain the integrity of the
profession, and integrate principles of social justice
into nursing and health policy.
4
5. Ethical Dilemma in Nursing
a conflict of two or more moral imperatives; require decision making with ethical
consideration, experiences, skills, and support (Ulrich et al., 2010)
5
• Protecting patients’ rights
• Autonomy and informed consent to treatment
• Advanced care planning
• Staffing patterns that negatively impact work
• Surrogate decision making
• End-of-life decision making
6. References
• BC College of Nursing Professionals (2020). Professional standards for registered nurses and nurse
practitioners.
https://www.bccnp.ca/Standards/RN_NP/StandardResources/RN_NP_ProfessionalStandards.pdf
• Haddad, L M. & Geiger, R. A. (2020). Nursing ethical consideration. In StatPerls Publishing.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526054/
• McDermott-Levy, R., Leffers, J., & Mayaka, J. (2018). Ethical principles and guidelines of global
health nursing practice. Nursing Outlook, 66(5), 473-481.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2018.06.013
• Noureddine, S. (2001). Development of the ethical dimension in nursing theory. International Journal
of Nursing Practice, 7(1), 2-7. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-172x.2001.00253.x
• Ulrich, C. M., Taylor, C., Soeken, K., O'Donnell, P., Farrar, A., Danis, M., & Grady, C. (2010).
Everyday ethics: Ethical issues and stress in nursing practice. Journal of advanced nursing, 66(11),
2510–2519. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2010.05425.x
6
