Nursing ethics

Nursing ethics is a branch of applied ethics that concerns itself with activities in the field of nursing. Nursing ethics shares many principles with medical ethics, such as beneficence, non-maleficence and respect for autonomy. It can be distinguished by its emphasis on relationships, human dignity and collaborative care.

History

The history of nursing ethics, whilst connected to the history of medical ethics, has emerged as a distinct discipline in relation to the development of nursing as a profession. The Nightingale Pledge taken by new nurses was named in honour of Florence Nightingale and is a modified version of the Hippocratic Oath.

Principles

Nursing ethics are tested everyday and they encompass a wide range of issues, from patient safety to issues of death and dying. The four main principles that nurses should follow are Respect for autonomy, Beneficence, Non-maleficence, and Justice.

Issues

Nursing ethics tends to take a more practical approach than medical ethics and is more concerned with decisions that have to be made on a moment-to-moment basis, rather than simply the formulation of theoretical principles.

See also

• Bioethics
• Medical law
• Nursing law
• Professional ethics

External links

• American Nurses Association
• International Council of Nurses

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