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Lecture Notes: Ethical Considerations in Nursing Practice
Date: March 22, 2024
Instructor: Professor Maria Rodriguez, RN, PhD
Introduction:
 Nursing, as a profession, is deeply rooted in ethical principles that guide patient care and
decision-making.
 Today's lecture will explore some of the ethical considerations inherent in nursing
practice, including issues related to patient autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and
justice.
 We will also examine the role of nurses in advocating for patients' rights and navigating
complex ethical dilemmas in healthcare settings.
1. Patient Autonomy:
 Respect for patient autonomy is a fundamental principle of medical ethics that

underscores the importance of patients' right to make informed decisions about their
healthcare.
 Nurses play a crucial role in supporting patients' autonomy by providing them with
accurate information, facilitating shared decision-making processes, and respecting their
preferences and values.
 Ethical dilemmas may arise when patients' autonomous choices conflict with medical
recommendations or societal norms, requiring nurses to navigate these conflicts with
sensitivity and empathy.
2. Beneficence and Nonmaleficence:
 The principles of beneficence (doing good) and nonmaleficence (avoiding harm) guide
nurses in providing safe, effective, and compassionate care to their patients.
 Nurses are ethically obligated to act in the best interests of their patients, promoting their
well-being while minimizing the risk of harm.
 Ethical dilemmas may arise when providing care involves balancing competing interests
or when interventions have potential risks and benefits that must be carefully weighed.
3. Justice in Healthcare:
 Justice entails fairness and equity in the distribution of healthcare resources, access to
care, and the treatment of patients.
 Nurses have a responsibility to advocate for equitable healthcare policies and practices
that address disparities in healthcare access and outcomes.
 Ethical dilemmas may arise when resource allocation decisions prioritize certain patients
or populations over others, raising questions about distributive justice and social
responsibility.
4. Advocacy and Professional Responsibility:
 Nurses serve as advocates for their patients, ensuring that their rights, preferences, and
needs are respected and addressed within the healthcare system.
 Ethical nursing practice requires nurses to speak up on behalf of vulnerable patients,
challenge unethical practices or policies, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to
promote patient-centered care.
 Ethical dilemmas may arise when advocating for patients conflicts with organizational
policies, professional norms, or legal obligations, requiring nurses to navigate these
tensions with integrity and courage.
5. Ethical Decision-Making in Nursing:
 Ethical decision-making in nursing involves a systematic process of identifying,

analyzing, and resolving ethical dilemmas in clinical practice.
 The ethical decision-making framework often involves assessing the situation, identifying
relevant ethical principles and values, considering alternative courses of action, and
implementing a plan that upholds ethical standards and promotes patient well-being.
 Interprofessional collaboration and ethical reflection are essential for nurses to navigate
complex ethical dilemmas effectively and uphold the highest standards of ethical
practice.
Conclusion:
 Ethical considerations are integral to nursing practice and require nurses to navigate
complex ethical dilemmas with compassion, integrity, and professionalism.
 By upholding principles of patient autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice,
nurses can promote ethical care delivery and advocate for the rights and well-being of
their patients.
References:
 American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive
Statements. Silver Spring, MD: Author.
 Butts, J. B., & Rich, K. L. (Eds.). (2019). Nursing Ethics: Across the Curriculum and
Into Practice. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
 Epstein, B., & Turner, M. (2015). The Nursing Code of Ethics: Its Value, Its History.
Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 20(2), Manuscript 4.

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Lecture Notes: Ethical Considerations in Nursing Practice

Date: March 22, 2024

Instructor: Professor Maria Rodriguez, RN, PhD

 Respect for patient autonomy is a fundamental principle of medical ethics that

2. Beneficence and Nonmaleficence:

4. Advocacy and Professional Responsibility:

5. Ethical Decision-Making in Nursing:

 Ethical decision-making in nursing involves a systematic process of identifying,

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