Nursing ethics are morals and rules put in place to determine the response of nurses to certain situations. While attending to patients, challenges that may arise requires nurses to make ethical decisions even and behave in accordance to code of ethics even if it may affect them negatively. Some negative outcomes include embarrassment and a stained reputation. The code of ethics requires nurse to protect patients and themselves at all costs and show concern and care to patients. Creating a good rapport with the patients helps healthcare providers to come up with effective solutions for their patients. The nursing code of ethics applies to nurses’ personal lives as well.
Principles of nursing ethics
The following are the principles of nursing ethics according to the oncology nursing society.
1. Autonomy
Autonomy is the ability to identify a patient’s rights regarding decision making and determination. A patient has the right to choose their preferences after being informed on the options available depending on their illness. However, they must be well informed about potential risks and benefits as well as the aftermath and complication in order to make sound decisions. Once the patient has made a decision, the health care workers begin to make a care plan which comply with the patient’s wish. However, if the nurses feel the patient’s decision will cause more harm than good, they can continue making more recommendations that are likely to be more efficient. There are factors that affect the decision of a patient such as: their health, gender, culture and social relationships.
2. Justice
Justice means there should be fare distribution of resources, decisions made as well as medical care. Nurses are supposed to take care of all patients equally and fairy no matter their religion, race or gender. For example, in a setting where several patients need attention, the nurse’s decision depends on which patient needs immediate attention or their condition is worsening. However, this does not mean that they abandon the other patients.
3. Beneficence
Beneficence is the act of kindness to enhance the well-being of your patients. It can also be defined as actions led by empathy which require nurses to show kindness to their patients and obey their wishes. The patient should be well informed and competent enough to make sound decisions.
4. Non-maleficence
Non-maleficence is a virtue that forbids nurses and other people from doing harm to patients. This is one of the main ethics in nursing achieved by choosing the most favorable care plans that will have a positive output on the patient. Educating a patient on treatment plans that may cause them harm is a way of ensuring their safety.
Examples of nursing ethics
The following are a few examples of nursing ethics:
- Accountability: Nurses are responsible for their actions and are supposed to do everything in their power to ensure safety of the patient. Their honesty and good morals do not allow them to offer services they are not proficient with.
- Confidentiality: The nursing code of ethics demands that a patient’s information should be discrete. This means that unauthorized personnel should not have access to patients’ sensitive and private information. Nurses are only allowed to discuss the solution of a certain patient within themselves without any third parties such as matrons.
- Equality amongst patients: The nursing code of ethics illustrates that all patients should be treated equally and discourages favoritism. Treating patients fairly means that all medical resources are distributed equally depending on the respective needs. Promoting equality creates a strong relationship and trust between nurses and patients.
- Advising and offering recommendations to patients: As a nurse, it is your duty to train a patient on the mode of treatment they have chosen and recommending others ways to solve their situation. Ensuring that their needs and preferences are well taken care of is also recommended by the nursing code of ethics. However, for a patient to make their own decisions, they must be mentally okay and if not, then nurses should assist with this process.
- Value and care for individual patients: A nurse is supposed to have a deeper understanding of their patient so they can serve them efficiently. They are required to treat each patient with respect and kindness but maintain their professional boundaries.
- Comprehensive treatment: A nurse’s approach to a patient should be integrated considering their physical and mental status and wellness. Nurses work hand in hand with physicians to provide wholistic care and treatment. They also work towards eliminating threats that may hinder wholistic care such as initiatives that do not meet the community health standards.
Conclusion
Nurses are an important pillar in a community considering that they carry out a load of health duties daily. These tasks require them to make decisions which must be professionally and morally upright. The nursing code of ethics ensure all patients are treated equally and with care as well as giving the patient freedom of preference. It also states that a patients should be well taken care of and their safety ensured at all times. In addition, it also requires nurses to seek justice for patients and work responsibly in their line of duty. Aa code of ethics puts emphasis on nurses being advocates to patients for positive and progressive results.
FAQs
1. What is the importance of the code of ethics in nursing?
The code of ethics directs nurses on professional behavior, it provides a scheme for decision making in case challenges arise as well as offering support to nurses in case of emotional and moral distress.
2. Which are the types of ethics?
Types of ethics are: descriptive ethics, metaethics, normative ethics, applied ethics and virtue ethics
3. Differentiate between ethics and values?
Ethics are principle associated with morals whereas values are the ability of someone to distinguish between what is wrong and right. Ethics are applied in social setting while values are personal aspects.
4. What is ethical culture?
The culture in ethics refers to the expectations a facility has on the behaviors of their employees both ethically and unethically and how it persuades them to act when working for them.