GROUP 5

LEADER: RAISEN A. EBUS

MEMBERS:
April Rose L. Ealdama
Abdulhaq K. Dimalen
John Mark D. Doruelo
John Brenz Lirog Dungan

ETHICAL PRINCIPLES
Ethics, simply defined, is a principle that describes what is expected in terms of
right and correct and wrong or incorrect in terms of behavior. For example,
nurses are held to ethical principles contained within the American Nurses
Association Code of Ethics. Ethics and ethical practice are integrated into all
aspects of nursing care.
The ethical principles that nurses must adhere to are the principles of justice,
beneficence, nonmaleficence, accountability, fidelity, autonomy, and veracity.
Justice is fairness. Nurses must be fair when they distribute care, for example,
among the patients in the group of patients that they are taking care of. Care
must be fairly, justly, and equitably distributed among a group of patients.

An example of justice: If a hospital organization decides to donate no-cost eye

exams and hearing tests to 10 elementary schoolchildren each month, a fair,
unbiased method must be used to determine which children receive these
services.

Beneficence is doing good and the right thing for the patient.

An example of beneficence: If a nursing home patient falls and fractures his hip, a
nurse should provide him pain medication as quickly as possible.

Nonmaleficence is doing no harm, as stated in the historical Hippocratic Oath.

Harm can be intentional or unintentional.
An example of nonmaleficence: If an incompetent, or chemically impaired, health
care practitioner is taking care of patients, a nurse should report the abuse to
protect the patient.

Accountability is accepting responsibility for one's own actions. Nurses are

accountable for their nursing care and other actions. They must accept all of the
professional and personal consequences that can occur as the result of their
actions.

Transfer of accountability from one nurse to another is like a silent contract. For
example, in an acute care setting, when a nurse receives report from the outgoing
nurse, there is a transfer of accountability from one person to another. The
oncoming nurse is responsible and answerable for the behaviors and outcomes of
a group of patients for the duration of the shift. Thus, anytime a nurse establishes
a professional relationship with a patient (depending on role/setting), there is a
binding agreement where the nurse is legally bound to implement care according
to the patient’s needs and wishes.

Fidelity is keeping one's promises. The nurse must be faithful and true to their
professional promises and responsibilities by providing high quality, safe care in a
competent manner.

An example of fidelity: A patient request that a nurse not reveal his terminal
diagnosis to his family. The patient explains that his family would probably
disregard his wishes and keep him alive no matter the circumstances. The nurse
must recognize the obligation to keep this information in confidence and still
support the patient's family.

Autonomy and patient self-determination are upheld when the nurse accepts
the client as a unique person who has the innate right to have their own opinions,
perspectives, values and beliefs. Nurses encourage patients to make their own
decision without any judgments or coercion from the nurse. The patient has the
right to reject or accept all treatments.

For example, in the case of individual adults, an autonomous person is someone

who's capable of making a rational and informed decision on their own behalf,
but it doesn't mean that they have the right to do whatever they want or disobey
laws and regulations.
Veracity is being completely truthful with patients; nurses must not withhold the
whole truth from clients even when it may lead to patient distress.

An example may be if a patient is suspected to be seriously ill, but is in the office

for a visit on December 17. Due to the proximity of the Christmas holiday, medical
personnel may simply request a follow-up visit immediately after Christmas,
instead of relating all the ramifications of the illness at the initial appointment.
Family dynamics are an additional consideration as well.

https://www.registerednursing.org/nclex/ethical-practice/