Ethics and Nursing Practice

Paper Summary:

This paper outlines the importance of ethical theory to nursing and then looks at different ethical theories and how they can be applied to solve confidentiality problems that arise in nursing practice. The paper deals with the concept of reasonable limits and how it relates to confidentiality and looks at cases where ethical principles can conflict. The paper also examines how culture influences moral values and, finally, how decisions can be made using the ethical decision-making models.

Outline:
Introduction
The Importance of Ethical Theory to Nursing
Relate the Principle of Confidentiality to the Concept of Reasonable Limits
Resolving Conflict Between Two or More Ethical Principles
Influence of Culture on Values
Ethical Decision-Making Model

From the Paper:

"Nurses are usually faced with many issues in the course of their work. They need to make decisions or help patients but at times their personal beliefs contradict with the rules they are supposed to follow. That is why they need to properly understand the underlying reasons as to why they are supposed to follow the set rules. Ethical theories will be important because they will enable nurses to know the kind of information they are allowed to share with their patients and family. Nurses as well as doctors know the different ailments that their patients have. These patients can be strangers, family members, friends or even colleagues. A friend may be diagnosed with a disease like syphilis and they definitely do not want the whole world discovering about it therefore, they will want the nurses or medical practitioners to keep such information secret. Nurses hence need to have limits on the kind of information that they can share with the general public and which should be kept private."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bosek, D. S. &. Savage, T. A. (2007). The Ethical Component of Nursing Education: Integrating Ethics Into Clinical Experience. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins p. 39
• Brent, N. J. (2000) Nurses and the law: a guide to principles and applications 2nd EdElsevier Health Sciences p. 39-41
• Cherry, B. & Jacob, S. R. (2005). Contemporary nursing: issues, trends, & management 3rd Ed.Elsevier Health Sciences, 2005
• Chitty K. K. (2004). Professional nursing: concepts & challenges 4th Ed.Elsevier Health Sciences, 2004 p. 529-543
• Cress, C. (2007).Handbook of Geriatric Care Management 2nd Ed. Jones & Bartlett Publishers, 2007

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