Beneficence is the core principle that refers to the act of ‘doing good’ and advocating for the patient. All nurses should take positive actions to help their patients and to have the desire to do good. On the other hand, nonmaleficence is the core of the nursing ethics and it revolves around the idea that nurses have to remain competent in their field as to avoid causing injury or harm to patients. Nonmaleficence also requires all health care professionals to report any suspected abuse. The last ethical principle is justice.
The principle of autonomy is a form of respect towards a person, or is viewed as agreement does not force and act rationally. Autonomy is the right of independence and freedom of the individual claiming discrimination themselves. Professional practice reflects the autonomy when nurses appreciate client 's rights in making decisions about the care of himself. The application of moral principles of autonomy in nursing care of this example is a nurse if inoculate must be informed as to what those drugs, the principle of autonomy is violated when a nurse does not specify an action of nursing was going to do, do not offer options such as allowing a shot or injection can be done in the ass right or left and so on. Nurses in this matter have acted
According to ANA (American Nurses Association) Deontology is though of as “not looking primarily at consequences of actions, but instead examines a situation for the essential moral worth of the intention of act, or rightness or wrongness of the act.” (ANA). I believe based on this theory it would guide the staff to making the choice to discontinue the feeding tube per patients request to not have one in the first place. It is the right choice to make for this particular patient even though it doesn’t offer the most health beneficial outcome. ANA (American Nurses Association) uses an a-like deontology example “For example, we have begun not to use restraints on older people for their safety and to think of other measures. We do this because restraining someone against his or her will could not be considered a universal law.” (ANA).
Professional and ethical accountability is an essential factor in the nursing profession and patient safety. As proposed by the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics requires that individual nurses take responsibility to one action to others (patients and family members, our profession, coworkers, workplace, and to oneself (Batti, & Steelman, 2014). Therefore, According to McCormick, (201) accountability is the basis in building trust, reducing fear, and enhancing morale and performant. Accountability depends on both effective communication skills and clinical expertise. It helps nurses to recognize breach in care that can adversely affect patient health outcome and be able to correct them on time.
If you look out for the wellbeing of you patient and express what is best for your patient then you are actively practicing the value of altruism in the field of nursing. Next, the professional value of autonomy. Autonomy is the personal value of one over themselves, free form control of others (96). An autonomous person is one who acts intentionally, with understanding and without the influences of others opinions on them. As a nurse it is important to know when to give your input and when to hold off.
`At Seattle Children’s Hospital, Kimberly Hiatt had been a cardiac critical care nurse for 24 years. On Setember 14, 2010, she accidently gave an already sick 8-month old baby 1.4 grams of calcium chloride instead of the prescribed 140 milligrams. She immediately realized what had happened and stated “Oh my god, I have given too much calcium”. This was only the medical mistake she had ever made. A few days later, the baby died.
Beneficence means that nurses should value patient’s autonomy, also to do good and always act in the greatest advantage of the patient. Based on Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, “Value Statement 4: Respect and preserve clients’ privacy and dignity” that nurses should prevent or resolve any situation in which patients are not given privacy or dignity. Furthermore, render correct care to support an honorable and peaceful passing in situations where life can no longer be continued. For this situation, beneficence should be well-thought-out by the nurses as informing Mr. Ahmad about his condition may let him accomplish his unfinished task of his life. Besides, it may help in feeling more peaceful and reduce his doubts; therefore, being aware of his condition could have been helped him in numerous ways.
A healthcare administrator must use good judgment. They must be able to adjust their behavior to each situation, but must understand that conflicts will occur between different expectations in the code of ethics. Other expected behavior for a healthcare administrator is that one shouldn 't misrepresent one’s qualifications and shouldn’t misrepresent facts when communicating with other professionals during business activities. Overall, one’s behavior must set them apart from the others and their actions must show that they believe in a code of ethics and are a true representative of this profession (Bianca, 2017).
Ethics, believe it or not can be learned. Ethics describes behavior based on ideas what’s morally good and bad (have to quote this from Webster’s dictionary website) If you are working as a nurse and are faced with an ethical dilemma there are steps you can take in the decision-making process. If you are unaware how to come up with the right or wrong answer of an ethical dilemma; there are steps established for you to find your way to the correct answer. The problem solving method of ethical decision-making was created in alignment of the nursing process. Something we are all familiar with and in-turn can help rectify the problem to the dilemma.
This framework is a useful standard against which the professional behavior of a nursing practitioner must be measured. The Nursing Staff Supervisor (NSS) can refer to this standard (or standards of ethical behaviors) when resolving ethical issues in nursing practice. In situations wherein the ethical issues are so complicated to be resolved at the hospital level, the ANA may be able to step it within a pre-defined parameter, to extend their institutional ethical expertise to help resolve the ethical issue involved (Wood, 2014). Nursing associations oftentimes have a dedicated ethics committee who are comprised of ethics experts over issues relevant to, or uniquely encountered only in, the nursing practice.