Chapter 9 Ethics of Caring

Changes Increasing Ethical Dilemmas for Nurses Expanded role of nurses. Medical technology. New fiscal constraints. Greater numbers of older adults.

Increased Accountability of Nurses Wider scope of functions: –Performing sophisticated assessments. –Diagnosing nursing problems. –Monitoring and giving complicated treatments. –Using alternative modalities of care. –Making independent judgments about patients’ status. Higher salaries and greater status of nurses

Philosophies Guiding Ethical Thinking Utilitarianism: good acts are those from which the greatest number of people will benefit and gain happiness. Egoism: an act is morally acceptable if it is of the greatest benefit to oneself; there is no reason to perform an act that benefits others unless one will personally benefit from it as well.

Philosophies Guiding Ethical Thinking (cont.) Relativism: right and wrong are relative to the situation (situational ethics). Naturalism: –(1) Something is good if there are positive attitudes or interests in it, or –(2) something is good if the ideal, objective person has a positive attitude or interest in it.

Ethical Principles Beneficence: to do good for patients. Nonmaleficence: to prevent harm to patients. Justice: to be fair, treat people equally, and give patients the service they need.

Ethical Principles (cont.) Fidelity and Veracity: to respect our words and duty to patients. Autonomy: to respect patients’ freedoms, preferences, and rights.

Examples of Using Ethical Principles Ensuring that patients receive the care they need. Respecting the rights of patients to consent to or deny consent for treatment. Preventing incompetent staff from caring for patients. Following acceptable standards of practice.

Measures to Help Nurses Make Ethical Decisions Encourage patients’ expressions of desires. Identify significant others who impact and are impacted. Know thyself. Read. Discuss. Form an ethics committee.

Measures to Help Nurses Make Ethical Decisions (cont.) Consult. Share. Evaluate decisions.

Source Eliopoulos, C. (2005). Gerontological Nursing, (6 th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins (ISBN ).