Autonomy

Refers to the right to make one's own decisions

NonMaleficence

Duty to "do no harm". Although this would seem to be a simple principle to follow, in reality it is complex

Values

Are enduring beliefs or attitudes about the worth of a person, object, idea or action

Beliefs

(opinions) are interpretations or conclusions that people accept as true

Attitudes

mental positions or feelings towrad a person, object or idea

Values Transmission

Values are learned through observation and experience. As a result, they are heavily influenced by a person's sociocultural environment- that is, by societal traditions; by cultural ethnic and religious groups; and by family and peer groups.

Personal Values

Although people derive values from society and their individual subgroups, they inernalize some or all of these values and perceive them as personal values

Professional Values

are acquired during socialization into nursing from codes of ethics, nursing experiences, teachers and peers.

Values Clarification

Is a process by which people identify, examine, and develop their own individual values. A principle of values and clarification is that no one set of values is right for everyone

Ethics

It refers to a method of inquiry that hellps people to understand the morality of human behavior,

the practices or beliefs of a certain group, the expected standards of moral behavior of a particular group as described in the group's formal code of professional ethics

Bioethics

Ethics as applied to human life or health

Nursing Ethics

Refers to ethical isues that occur in nursing practices

Morality

Usually refers to private, personal standards of what is right and wrong in conduct, character and attitude

Moral Development

The process of learning to tell the difference between right and wrong and of learning what ought and ought not to be done. 

Consequence based theories

Look to the outcomes of an action in judging whether that action is right or wrong

Utilitarianism

views a good act as one that brings the most good and the least harm for the greatest number of people.

Principles-based theories

Involve logical and formal processes and emphasize individual rights, duties and obligations

Relationships-based theories

(caring)

Stress courage, generosity, commitment, and the need to nurture and maintain relationships

Moral Rules

Specific prescriptions for actions

Autonomy

Refers to the right to make one's own decisions

Nonmaleficence

Is duty to "do no harm"

Beneficence

Means "doing good"

Justice

Fairness

Fidelity

means to be faithful to agreements and promises

Veracity

Refers to telling the truth

Accountability

Means "answerable to oneself and others for one's own actions"

Responsibility

refers to "The specific accountability or liability associated with the performance of duties of a particular role."

Code of Ethics

Formal statement of a group's ideals and values

Active Euthansia

Involves actions to bring the client's death directly, with or without client consent

Assisted Suicide

Giving clients the means to kill themselves if they request it

Advocate

One who expresses and defend the cause of another

Nursing Ethics refers to

The moral problems that arise in nursing practice and to ethical decisions that nurses make

Morality refers to

What is right and wrong in conduct, character or attitude

Moral issues are those that

arouse conscience, are concerned with important values and norms and eoke words such as good, bad, right, wrong, should and ought

Moral principles

(autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, and veracity)

are broad, general philosophical concepts that can be used to make and eplain moral choices

A professional code of ethics is

A formal statement of a group's ideals and vallues that serves as a standard and guideline for the group's professional actions and informs the public of its commitment

Ethical problems are created as a result of

Changes in society, advances in technology, conflicts within nursing itself, and nurses' conflicting loyaltes and obligations

Nurses' ethical decisions are influenced by

their moral theories and principles, levels of congnitive development, personal and professional values, and nursing code of ethic

The goal of ethical reasoning in the context of nursing is

To reach a mutual, peaceful agreement that is in the best interest of the client, reaching the agreement may require compromise

Nurses are responsible for

determining their own actions and for supporting clients who are making moral decisions or for whom decisions are being made by others

Nurses can enjance their ethical practice and client advocacy by

Clarifying their own values, understanding the values of other health care professionals, becoming familiar with nursing codes of ethics, and participating in ethics committees and rounds

Client advocacy involves

Concerns for and actions on behalf of another person or organization in order to bring about change

The functions of the advocacy role are

To inform, support and mediate