The American Association of Nursing (2015) describes ethics in nursing as, “The nurse, in all professional relationships, practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and uniqueness of every individual, unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of the health problem”. As nurses, we are obligated to provide the same standard of care for each patient without any biases or discriminations. We shall advocate for the rights of every single patient and provide them privacy, confidentiality, and right to make decisions involved with their healthcare. Some ethical principles that govern patient care are autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and fidelity, each one sets the framework for the ethical guidelines that nurses and other healthcare workers should follow. In autonomy patients have a say so in their care, whether a nurse agrees with their decision or not. This could be difficult in situations when the nurse knows that a particular medication or procedure is needed in order for the patient to have optimal health. Beneficence refers to the nurse doing good for the patient, for example providing pain medication for an injured patient. Non-maleficence is similar to beneficence except it means to do no harm, for example ensuring the correct medication is administered to your patient. Justice refers to the treating …show more content…
One of the most important ways nurses can assist families who are facing ethical decisions is to simply listen to them and supporting any decision that is made without judgment. In addition to listening and supporting, nurses can ask the patient or family members’ questions regarding the ethical decision, such as asking the how they are feeling about it, if there’s anything the nurse can clarify, or what about a particular decision is bothering them. Providing community resources is another great way to help, such as support groups or home health care needs. Additionally, the nurse can refer pastoral support if it’s