Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN PHILIPPINES
Tamag, Vigan City
2700 Ilocos Sur
College of Nursing
Website: www.unp.edu.ph Mail:
[email protected] CP# 09177148749, 09175785986
Module 1
NURSING ETHICS
Module Description:
This module presents the concepts and principles the ethical, moral, legal, and professional
responsibilities of a nurse.
Learning Outcomes
Given an actual clinical setting with supervision the Level Iv students will:
1. Demonstrate accountability and responsibility for safe nursing practice.
2. Adhere to ethico-legal consideration when providing safe and quality and professional nursing
care
3. Implement strategies/ policies related to informed consent as it applies in multiple context
4. Protect clients rights based on clients’ and nurses’ rights
5. Apply ethical reasoning and decision making process to address situations of ethical distress
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and moral dilemma
6. Customized nursing intervention based on Phil. culture and values
7. Adhere to established norms of conducts based on the Phil. Nursing Law and legal, regulatory
and institutional requirements relevant to safe and nursing practice
8. Accept responsibility in paying relevant taxes in the practice of the profession
9. Assume responsibility for lifelong learning, own personal development and maintenance
of competence
10. Demonstrate continued competence and professional growth, models of professional behavior
11. Develop a professional portfolio
12. Manifest caring as a core of nursing, including the love for God and people
13. Engage in advocacy activities to influence health and social care service policies and access to
service
14. Engage in advocacy activities to deal with health related concerns and adopts policies that foster
the growth and development of nursing profession
Activity:
Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN PHILIPPINES
Tamag, Vigan City
2700 Ilocos Sur
College of Nursing
Website: www.unp.edu.ph Mail: [email protected]
CP# 09177148749, 09175785986
The required activity will be posted separately by your instructor.
Lesson 1. Review of Ethico-Moral Responsibility
Nursing Ethics – is the applied discipline that addresses the moral features of nursing practice.
(Gallagher, A.,2012 https://www.sciencedirect.com.topics)
The nursing profession is subject to state regulation, as embodied by the nursing law which
was updated and amended several times. The Code of Ethics delineates right from wrong in nursing
practice and sets a clear standard of values to be followed (Venzon & Venzon ,2016).
Ethical Principles and other Approaches
Theological Approach – Gk. Word telos or “goal or end.” “ The right thing to do is the good
thing to do”. Joseph Fletcher , a situation ethicist, holds that good is agape, the general
goodwill or love for humanity.
Deontological Approach or Duty-Oriented Theory –Gk. Word deon means duty. The basic
rightness or wrongness of an act depends on the intrinsic nature rather than upon the
situation or its consequences. Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher and ethicist states that
“ A person is morally good and admirable if his actions are done from a sense of duty and
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reason.
Virtue Ethics Approach – Gk. Work arête, is focused primarily on the heart of the person
performing the act. It focuses on the traits and virtues of a good person such as courage,
temperance, wisdom and justice.
The rules to provide guidance to moral decisions
Divine Command Ethics – based on the theory that there is a Supreme or Divine being that
sets down.
ETHICAL FRAMEWORKS FOR DECISION MAKING
Principles to guide nurses towards both ethical and legal practice:
1. Autonomy – the right of an individual to take independent action (self-determination), limitations
on what nurses can do as set by the law. Nurse should be free to act on her own especially when no
doctors are available and the health of the patient is at stake. Ex. A nurse may refrain from rendering
care to a patient because of his religious beliefs, but this is tempered by the principle that the
patient’s care is paramount, such that if the patient’s life is at stake she still should act.
2. Beneficence – the duty to “do good” to help others by doing what is best for them, and its from
this that the principle of non-maleficence or “do no harm is derived. It is a two-fold duty to do good
and not to inflict harm on other or even risk of harm on others.
The Patient’s Bill of Rights:
Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN PHILIPPINES
Tamag, Vigan City
2700 Ilocos Sur
College of Nursing
Website: www.unp.edu.ph Mail:
[email protected] CP# 09177148749, 09175785986
Considerate & respectful care;
Relevant, current and understandable information concerning diagnosis, trt.
Prognosis, specific procedures, risks involved, medically reasonable alternative
benefits needed to make informed consent;
Make decisions regarding his plan of care; in case of refusal he is entitled to other
appropriate care & service or be transferred to another hospital;
Have advice directive (living will) concerning treatment or designating a surrogate
decision maker;
Every consideration of his privacy such as in case discussion, consultation and
treatment;
Confidentiality of communications and records;
Review his records concerning his medical care & have explained to him except
when restricted by law;
Be informed of business relationship among the hospital, educational institution,
health care providers that may influence the patient’s treatment and care;
Consent or decline to participate in experimental research affecting his care;
Reasonable continuity of care when appropriate & be informed of other care
options when hospital care is no longer appropriate;
Be informed of hospital policies and practices that relate to patient care.
The Dying Patient’s Bill of Rights
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I have the right to:
be treated a a living human being until I die.
Maintain the sense of hopefulness however changing its focus may be.
Be cared for by those who can maintain a sense of hopefulness, however changing
this might be.
Express my feelings and emotions about my approaching death in my own way.
Participate in decisions concerning my care.
Expect continuing medical and nursing attention even though “cure” goals must be
changed to “comfort” goals.
Not to die alone. I have the right to be free from pain.
Have my questions answered honestly.
Not to be deceived
Have help from and for my family in accepting my death
Die in peace and dignity.
Retain my individuality and not be judged for my decisions which may be contrary to
beliefs of others
Discuss and enlarge my religious and/or spiritual experiences, whatever these may
mean to others.
Expect the sanctity of the human body will be respected after death.
Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN PHILIPPINES
Tamag, Vigan City
2700 Ilocos Sur
College of Nursing
Website: www.unp.edu.ph Mail:
[email protected] CP# 09177148749, 09175785986
Be cared for by caring, sensitive, knowledgeable people who will attempt to
understand my needs and will be able to gain some satisfaction in helping me face
death. ( Venzon & Venzon, 2016)
3. Distributive Justice – is giving a person what he deserves. The benefits and burdens should be
distributed equally or at least equitably so that everyone gets to benefit from the health care system
and that no one has to bear too much of a burden.
INTERNATIONAL CODE OF ETHICS FOR NURSES
1. Nurses and People
The nurse’s primary professional responsibility is to people requiring nursing care.
In providing care, the nurse promotes an environment in which the human rights, values, customs
and spiritual beliefs of the individual, family, and community are respected.
The nurse ensures that the individual receives sufficient information on which to base consent for
care & related treatment.
The nurse holds in confidence personal information and uses judgement in sharing this information.
The nurse shares with society the responsibility for initiating and supporting action to meet the
health and social needs of the public, in particular those of vulnerable populations.
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The nurse also shares responsibility to sustain and protect the natural environment from depletion,
pollution, degradation and destruction.
2. Nurses and Practice
The nurse carries personal responsibility and accountability for nursing practice, and for maintaining
competence by continual learning.
The nurse maintains a standard of personal health such that the ability to provide care is not
compromised.
The nurse uses judgement regarding individual competence when accepting and delegating
responsibility.
The nurse at all times maintains standards of personal conduct which reflect well on the profession
and enhance public confidence.
The nurse in providing care, ensures that use of technology and scientific advances are compatible
with the safety, dignity and rights of people.
3. Nurses and the Profession
The nurse assumes the major role in determining and implementing acceptable standards of clinical
nursing practice, management, research and education.
The nurse is active in developing a core of research- based professional knowledge.
Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN PHILIPPINES
Tamag, Vigan City
2700 Ilocos Sur
College of Nursing
Website: www.unp.edu.ph Mail:
[email protected] CP# 09177148749, 09175785986
The nurse, acting through the professional organization, participates in creating and maintaining
safe, equitable social and economic working conditions in nursing.
4. Nurses and co-workers
The nurse sustains a co-operative relationship with co-workers in nursing and other fields.
The nurse takes appropriate action to safeguard individuals, families and communities when their
health is endangered by co-worker or any other person.
WORK ETHICS – is an attitude of determination and dedication toward one’s job, believing the
importance of your job and typically feel that hard work is essential to maintaining a strong
character.
PERSONAL WORK ETHICS – refers to the ethics that a person identifies within respect to people and
situations that they deal within everyday life.
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS – a person must adhere to in respect of their interactions and business
dealings in their professional life.
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