Ethics & Values
NRS 101
About Ethics
• Ethics
– System of moral principles governing behaviors
and relationships
– Standards of right and wrong
• Morality
– Private, personal standards of right and wrong
• Laws reflect moral values of society
• Nurses have ethical responsibility to be client
advocates
Values
• Values
– Personal beliefs about truth and worth of
behaviors, thought, objects
• Beliefs
– Interpretations or conclusion that one accepts as
true
Values
• Personal values develop from
– Individual social traditions
– Cultural, ethnic religious norms
• Professional values develop from
– Socialization into nursing profession
– Established code of ethics
– Faculty and other nurses
– Clinical and life experiences
• Values clarification
Professional Values
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Altruism
Autonomy
Human dignity
Integrity
Social justice
Clarifying Client Values
• Purpose
– Client’s values influence, relate to problem
• Processes
– List alternatives
– Examine possible consequences of choices
– Choose freely; feel good about choice
– Affirm choice; act on choice
– Act with pattern
Principles of Ethical
Decision Making
• Autonomy
• Beneficence
- Nonmaleficence
• Justice
• Veracity
Nursing Codes of Ethics
• General codes of ethics
• American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of
Ethics for Nurses
• International Council of Nurses Code of
Ethics
Models of Ethical Decision Making
• Responsible decision making
– Rational
– Systematic
– Based on ethical principles and codes
• Ethical obligations to clients, agency, primary
care provider
• First step: determine whether moral dilemma
exists
Figure 42-1 When there is a need for ethical decisions of client advocacy, many different people contribute to the final
outcome. A. Ramsey/PhotoEdit
Strategies
• Strategies to help nurses
• National Guideline Clearinghouse
• Joint Commission