Ethical Aspects of Nursing

1
Ethical Aspects of Nursing

• Presented By
• Christine Hicks

2
Key Concepts

• Ethics/Bioethics
• Values
• Value Clarification
• Ethical Codes for Practice
• Patients Bill of Rights
• Ethical Decision-making
• Clinical Situations

3
Ethics

• Ethics is a branch of philosophy that concerns
  the distinction of right from wrong on the basis
  of a body of knowledge not just on the basis of
  opinions

4
Bioethics

• Bioethics is the application of ethical
  principles to healthcare
• Purpose is to raise questions then act as a
  guideline toward solutions

5

• Bioethics is increasing important because
• Increase in technology in society
• Changing fabric of society
• Clients are more knowledgeable
• Decreasing funding for healthcare

6
Values

• Values directly influence the development of
  beliefs attitudes and may indirectly influence
  behavior
• The nurses values can become a problem when
  they conflict with the values of the client

7
Value Clarification

• This is the process of analyzing ones own values
  to better understand what is truly important.
• The nurse can use this process to increase
  self-awareness become better able to care for
  people with differing values

8
Ethical Codes for Practice

• Professional organizations develop codes that
  serve as a guideline for ethical conduct
• Examples
• International Council of Nurses
• American Nurses Association

9

• The Code provides broad principles for
  determining evaluating nursing care, but is not
  legally binding for registered nurses.
• In most states the Board of Nursing has the
  authority to reprimand nurses for unprofessional
  conduct that results from violation of the
  ethical code

10
Clients Rights

• Clients have rights including, but not limited
  to, the right to
• Make decisions regarding their care
• Be actively involved in the treatment process
• Be treated with dignity respect
• Patients Bill of Rights (1972)

11
Ethical Decision-making

• Sources
• Theories
• Principles
• Ethical Reasoning
• Ethical-decision-making Model

12

• Ethical Decision-making Model Steps
• Assessment
• Analysis Diagnosis
• Planning
• Implementation
• Evaluation

13
Examples of Ethical Issues in Nursing Practice

• Euthanasia
• Refusal of Treatment
• Scarce Resources