Ethical Principles and Code of Ethics for Nurses: A Comprehensive Guide | Study notes Medical ethics

R. Sanchez

Basic Principles of Biomedical Ethics

1. Autonomy – “freedom to choose”

- make choices about issues that affects one’s life.

- Right to choose what will happen to one’s own

person.

- Right to determine personal care given and by

whom.

Nursing Implication:

 Nurses should support client’s independence to make

decisions and take actions for themselves.

2. Beneficence – “do only what is good”

- requires nurses to act in ways that benefit the

client.

-acts of kindness and mercy

- acts should:

 promote health,

 prevent illnesses and complications

 alleviate suffering &

 assists towards peaceful deaths

Nursing Implications:

 Nurses have the responsibility to help others by doing

what is best for them.

 Ensures that the Bill of Rights are upheld as this will

provide effective patient care.

3. Non maleficence –“Do no harm”

- Requires nurses to act in such a way to avoid

causing harm to clients.

- stated in negative form

- seeks to do no harm in situation requiring nursing

actions

- the need to avoid harm regardless of reasons for

negative actions.

Nursing Implication:

 Nurses should act with empathy without bad faith or ill

will, nor make false accusations.

 Nurses should not participate in treatments or

procedures that will have the patients

Examples:

1. Do not assist in abortion and euthanasia

2. Do not submit patient to experimental drugs

3. Do not reveal confidential information

4. Veracity – “tell the truth”

- engenders respect, open communication, trust

and shared responsibility.

- universal value

Nursing Implication:

 Nurses should communicate truthfully and accurately.

Restrictions:

-Benevolent deception

5. Confidentiality- “keep private”

Nursing Implication:

 Safeguard client’s right to privacy.

Examples:

1. Accessibility to health insurance

2. Senior Citizen act

3. Other benefits

6. Justice – “Be fair!”

- Premise: Health is a basic human right.

- equitable and appropriate treatment according to

what is due or owed to persons with the

understanding that giving to some will deny

receipt to others who might otherwise have

received those things.

Nursing Implication:

 Nurses should make use of available resources fairly

and reasonably.

7. Fidelity – “Keep your word”

- faithfulness

- practice of keeping promises.

Nursing Implication:

 Nurses should attend to the details of what they say

they do.

Implication:

 In health care delivery system, basic ethical principles,

assist the health professionals to determine right or

wrong in regards to value issues involving the pursuit

of health alleviation of suffering and assisting patients

towards peaceful death.

Code of Ethics

Code of Ethics – Nursing etiquette on their relations with

others.

 RA 9173

- BON and the PNA (APO)

- Promulgation of COE within 1 year from Nov. 20,

2002

Importance of Code of Ethics:

 Provides one means whereby professional standards

maybe improved.

 Indicates a profession’s acceptance of the

responsibility and trust within had been invested.

BON Resolution No. 220 series 2004

 The Code of Ethics for Nurses

- It deals with the nurse relationship with the

following:

o Nurses and the People

o Nurses and Practice

o Nurses and co-workers

o Nurses and society and environment

o Nurses and Profession

A. Nurses and People

Guidelines:

- values, customs and spiritual beliefs held by the

individual are to be respected.

- Individual freedom to make rational and

unconstrained decisions is to be respected.

- Personal information acquires in the process of

giving nursing care shall be held in strict

confidence.

Nurses must:

 Consider the individuality and totality of clients when

administering care.

 Respect the spiritual beliefs and practices of clients

regarding diet and treatment.

 Uphold the rights of the individuals.

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Basic Principles of Biomedical Ethics

1. Autonomy – “freedom to choose” - make choices about issues that affects one’s life. - Right to choose what will happen to one’s own person. - Right to determine personal care given and by whom. Nursing Implication:  Nurses should support client’s independence to make decisions and take actions for themselves. 2. Beneficence – “do only what is good” - requires nurses to act in ways that benefit the client. - acts of kindness and mercy - acts should:  promote health,  prevent illnesses and complications  alleviate suffering &  assists towards peaceful deaths Nursing Implications:  Nurses have the responsibility to help others by doing what is best for them.  Ensures that the Bill of Rights are upheld as this will provide effective patient care. 3. Non maleficence – “Do no harm” - Requires nurses to act in such a way to avoid causing harm to clients. - stated in negative form - seeks to do no harm in situation requiring nursing actions - the need to avoid harm regardless of reasons for negative actions. Nursing Implication:  Nurses should act with empathy without bad faith or ill will, nor make false accusations.  Nurses should not participate in treatments or procedures that will have the patients Examples:

Do not assist in abortion and euthanasia
Do not submit patient to experimental drugs
Do not reveal confidential information 4. Veracity – “tell the truth”
- engenders respect, open communication, trust and shared responsibility.
- universal value Nursing Implication:  Nurses should communicate truthfully and accurately. Restrictions:

Benevolent deception 5. Confidentiality - “keep private” Nursing Implication:  Safeguard client’s right to privacy. Examples:

Accessibility to health insurance
Senior Citizen act
Other benefits
Justice – “Be fair!”
- Premise: Health is a basic human right.
  - equitable and appropriate treatment according to what is due or owed to persons with the understanding that giving to some will deny receipt to others who might otherwise have received those things. Nursing Implication:  Nurses should make use of available resources fairly and reasonably. 7. Fidelity – “Keep your word”

faithfulness
practice of keeping promises. Nursing Implication:  Nurses should attend to the details of what they say they do. Implication:

 In health care delivery system, basic ethical principles,

assist the health professionals to determine right or wrong in regards to value issues involving the pursuit of health alleviation of suffering and assisting patients towards peaceful death. Code of Ethics Code of Ethics – Nursing etiquette on their relations with others.  RA 9173

BON and the PNA (APO)
Promulgation of COE within 1 year from Nov. 20, 2002 Importance of Code of Ethics:  Provides one means whereby professional standards maybe improved.  Indicates a profession’s acceptance of the responsibility and trust within had been invested. BON Resolution No. 220 series 2004  The Code of Ethics for Nurses
It deals with the nurse relationship with the following: o Nurses and the People o Nurses and Practice o Nurses and co-workers o Nurses and society and environment o Nurses and Profession A. Nurses and People Guidelines:
values, customs and spiritual beliefs held by the individual are to be respected.
Individual freedom to make rational and unconstrained decisions is to be respected.
Personal information acquires in the process of giving nursing care shall be held in strict confidence. Nurses must:  Consider the individuality and totality of clients when administering care.  Respect the spiritual beliefs and practices of clients regarding diet and treatment.  Uphold the rights of the individuals.

Take into considerations the culture and values of the client’s welfare and safety must take precedence. B. Nurses and Co-workers/Colleagues Guidelines:

The nurse is in solidarity with other members of the healthcare team in working for the client’s best interests.
The nurse maintains collegial and collaborative working relationship with colleagues and other healthcare providers. Nurses/co-workers must:  Conform with group activities as those of a health team as should be based on ethico legal standards.  Contribute to the growth and development of and other members of health team  Actively participate in APO  Not in any manner prejudicial to other profession.  Honor and safeguard the reputation and dignity of members of nursing and other professions.  Respect the rights of their co-workers. Rights of Nurses  Right to practice nursing in accordance with professionally defined standards  Right to choose patient.  Right to limit the practice of one's profession.  Right to intervene when necessary to protect clients.  Right to be trusted by the public and the colleagues.  Right to participate in and promote growth and direction of the profession.  Right to be compensated fairly for services. Updated:  Have the right in an environment that supports and facilitate ethical practice in accordance with the Code of Ethics and its interpretative statements.  To freely and openly advocate for themselves and their patients without fear of retribution.  To fair compensation for their work, consistent with their knowledge, experience and professional responsibilities.  To a work environment that is safe for themselves and their patients.  To negotiate the conditions of their employment, either as individuals or collectively in all practice settings.  Nurses have the right to practice in a manner that fulfills obligations to society and to those who receive their nursing care.  Nurses have the right to practice in the environment that allows them to act in accordance with the professional standards and legally authorized scope of practice. C. Nurses and Practice Ethical Principle
Human Life is inviolable
Quality and excellence in the care of the clients are the goals of nursing practice.
The hallmark of accurate documentation of actions and outcomes of delivered care is a nursing accountability. Nurses must:  know the definition and scope of nursing practice  be aware of their duties and responsibilities  acquire and develop necessary competence in SKA to effectively render appropriate nursing services through varied learning situations  be responsible in providing favorable environment for the G & D of their RN – for administrators  Be cognizant that profession programs for specialty certification are accredited  See to it that quality nursing care and practice meet the optimum standard of safe nursing practice  Ensure modification of practice shall consider the principles of safe nursing practice.  Ensure modification of practice shall consider the principles of safe nursing practice.  Be normally/legally responsible for devising system of minimizing occurrences of ineffective and unlawful nursing practice.  Ensures that patients’ records shall be available only if they are to be issued to those who are professionally and directly involved in their care and when they are required by law. Principle: RN are advocates of patients.
should take appropriate steps to safeguard the patients’ and privileges.
Respect Bill of Rights
Provide pertinent info except those deemed harmful to their well-being
Uphold rights when conflict arises regarding management of care Principle: RNs are aware that their actions have professional, ethical, moral and legal dimensions. Strive to perform their work in the best interest of all concerned.
RNs perform their profession duties in conformity with existing laws, rules, regulations, measures and principles of moral conduct and proper decorum.
Not allow themselves to be used in advertisement that should demean the image of the profession.
Decline any gift favor or hospitality which might interpret as capitalizing on patients
Not demand or receive any commission, fee for recommending or referring a patient to physician and other members.
Quality nursing care meets the optimum standard of safe nursing practice.
Avoid any abuse of the privilege relation which exists with patients and of privileged access allowed to their property, residence or workplace. Nurses must:  Carries personal responsibility and accountability for nursing practice, and for maintaining competence by continual learning.

Ethical Principles and Code of Ethics for Nurses: A Comprehensive Guide, Study notes of Medical ethics

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 In health care delivery system, basic ethical principles,