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Professionalism and Research in Nursing

Ethical decision-making models guide nurses through complex moral dilemmas. These frameworks, like the MORAL model, help analyze issues, consider options, and make sound choices aligned with nursing ethics.

Cultural factors add depth to ethical considerations in nursing. Respecting diverse beliefs while upholding core principles requires cultural competence and humility. Nurses must navigate these complexities to provide ethical, patient-centered care.

Ethical Principles

Fundamental Ethical Principles in Nursing

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Top images from around the web for Fundamental Ethical Principles in Nursing
  • Autonomy respects patients' right to make their own decisions about their healthcare
    • Involves obtaining informed consent before procedures
    • Allows patients to refuse treatment even if it goes against medical advice
  • Beneficence requires nurses to act in the best interest of patients
    • Involves providing care that promotes health and well-being
    • Includes educating patients about healthy lifestyle choices
  • Non-maleficence mandates avoiding harm to patients
    • Encompasses careful medication administration to prevent errors
    • Involves proper infection control practices to prevent nosocomial infections
  • Justice ensures fair and equitable distribution of healthcare resources
    • Addresses issues of healthcare access for underserved populations
    • Considers resource allocation in situations of scarcity (organ transplants)

Additional Ethical Principles in Nursing Practice

  • Fidelity emphasizes loyalty and commitment to patients
    • Involves maintaining patient confidentiality
    • Requires following through on promised care and treatments
  • Veracity stresses truthfulness and honesty in patient interactions
    • Includes providing accurate information about diagnoses and prognoses
    • Necessitates admitting and disclosing medical errors when they occur

Ethical Decision-Making Models

MORAL Model for Ethical Decision-Making

  • M: Massage the dilemma to clarify the ethical issues involved
    • Identify the stakeholders affected by the decision
    • Articulate the conflicting ethical principles at play
  • O: Outline options for addressing the dilemma
    • Brainstorm potential courses of action
    • Consider both short-term and long-term consequences of each option
  • R: Review criteria and resolve
    • Evaluate each option against ethical principles and professional standards
    • Consult relevant policies, laws, and ethical guidelines
  • A: Affirm position and act
    • Make a decision based on the most ethically sound option
    • Implement the chosen course of action with confidence
  • L: Look back and learn
    • Reflect on the decision-making process and outcomes
    • Identify lessons learned for future ethical dilemmas

Alternative Ethical Decision-Making Frameworks

  • Four-box method organizes ethical considerations into four categories
    • Medical indications examine the clinical facts and treatment options
    • Patient preferences focus on the patient's expressed wishes and values
    • Quality of life evaluates the impact of decisions on patient well-being
    • Contextual features consider external factors (family, legal, financial)
  • Ethical framework provides a structured approach to analyzing ethical issues
    • Identify the ethical problem or question at hand
    • Gather relevant information from all involved parties
    • Consider applicable ethical principles and professional guidelines
    • Evaluate potential courses of action and their consequences
    • Make a decision and justify it based on ethical reasoning

Ethical Challenges

Common Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing

  • Ethical dilemma occurs when two or more ethical principles conflict
    • End-of-life care decisions (continuing life support vs. allowing natural death)
    • Balancing patient autonomy with beneficence in cases of treatment refusal
  • Moral distress arises when nurses cannot act according to their ethical beliefs
    • Occurs when institutional constraints prevent ethical action
    • Can lead to burnout, job dissatisfaction, and turnover among nurses
  • Informed consent requires patients to understand and agree to treatments
    • Involves explaining risks, benefits, and alternatives of procedures
    • Challenges arise with patients who have diminished decision-making capacity

Patient Advocacy and Ethical Responsibilities

  • Patient advocacy involves speaking up for patients' rights and interests
    • Includes ensuring patients receive appropriate care and resources
    • May require challenging unethical practices or decisions by colleagues
  • Nurses must navigate complex ethical situations while prioritizing patient welfare
    • Balancing family wishes with patient's expressed preferences
    • Addressing potential conflicts of interest in healthcare delivery

Cultural Considerations

Cultural Competence in Ethical Nursing Practice

  • Cultural competence involves understanding and respecting diverse patient beliefs
    • Requires awareness of one's own cultural biases and assumptions
    • Necessitates adapting care to align with patients' cultural values
  • Ethical decision-making must consider cultural factors
    • Some cultures prioritize family decision-making over individual autonomy
    • Religious beliefs may influence treatment preferences and end-of-life care
  • Nurses must navigate cultural differences while upholding ethical principles
    • Using professional interpreters to ensure accurate communication
    • Respecting cultural practices while maintaining patient safety standards
  • Cultural humility encourages ongoing learning and self-reflection
    • Recognizes that cultural competence is a continual process, not an endpoint
    • Involves asking patients about their cultural preferences and beliefs
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© 2025 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.

© 2025 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.