Autonomy

o Respect the person

o Respect that they are able to make their own choices and be creative
o Respect their choices even if you dont agree with them
o Value of autonomy is culturally dependent
Depending on culture, factors may contribute to whether
autonomy is respected like women in some cultures or age in
certain cultures
Autonomy
o Informed consent
o Paternalism implies that the decision maker knows whats best
o Advocacy ensures the patients welfare and respects the patients
autonomy purpose is to act according to the patients values
As nurses we need to advocate for our patients
Beneficence
o Act of doing good
o Preventing harm
Ask yourself:
In what instances would a nurse be compelled to prevent
harm? choice to use restraints Q1 hour restraint
checks
How far should a nurse go to prevent harm? there is no
right or wrong, we need to figure this out ourselves when
we are put into these types of positions
o Removing evil/harm
Ask yourself:
In what instances would a nurse be compelled to remove
harm?
How far should a nurse go to prevent harm?
o **Mrs. Pulito
Nonmaleficence
o This is where the Hippocratic oath comes from
Veracity the practice of telling the truth
o What would an acceptable time be to NOT tell the truth?
o Veracity, confidentiality, and privacy go hand in hand
o Confidentiality requires information be kept private
Limitation?
Mandatory reporting
Justice: appropriate treatment in light of what is due or owed to persons
o Giving pain meds to a known abuser because they are in pain, but are
known to abuse
o Known alcoholic and iv drug abuser and has been clean for 6 months
and is looking for a liver transplant still gotta help out with the
transplant even though you already know what his story is
Fidelity: faithfulness/ promise keeping
o Nurses must faithfully
Uphold the professions code of ethics

Practice within your established scope of practice

Practice competently
Keep promises to patients