Ethics deals with standards of conduct and moral judgment

The major principles of healthcare ethics1)Beneficence,2)Nonmaleficence3) Autonomy4)Justice.

Beneficence means promoting or doing good

Nonmaleficence means avoiding harm

Autonomy stands for independence and the ability to be self-directed

Justice requires that all clients be treated equally and fairly.

Nurses need to distinguish between their personal values and their professional ethics

ANA CODE OF ETHICS :

American Nurses Association Board of Directors and the Congress on Nursing Practice first initiated the Code of Ethics for Nurses in 1985 to delineate the code of responsibilities and conduct expected of nurses in their practice

The ANA approved eight provisions that address ethical practice issues such as

1. Compassion2. Respect3.Primary commitment to the patient4. Patient advocacy 5.Responsibility 6.Accountability7. Duties8. Participation in the healthcare environment

Duty: Duty stands for a legal obligation owed by one person to another person. When nurses care for clients, they assume the duty to care for them in a competent and diligent manner.

Breach: A breach of duty takes place when there is failure to fulfill the duties established as being the responsibility of the nurse. In other words, nurses breach their duty when they do not meet the appropriate standard of care.

Causation: Causation means that the nurse's breach of duty, or failure to meet the appropriate standard of care, caused the client's injury or adverse outcome.

Damages: Damages are monetary payments designed to compensate the client for the injury or adverse outcome, and are intended to restore the plaintiff to the condition he or she was in prior to the injury.

1.Licensure

2.Nurse practitioner act

3.Credentialing:

(Recognition of knowledge & skills exceeding basic practice, recognition by specialty organization)

1.Fraud /deception

2.Physical /mental impairment

3.Illegal conduct/incompetence/negligence

4.Drug/alcohol abuse

5.Abusive behavior

6. Conviction of criminal offence

Professional Organizations

Nsg Literatures

Agency, Policy, Procedures & Bylaws

Federal Admin Codes

JCAHO

Court Decisions

Experts Testimony

State Admin Regulations

Inadequate Assessment Of Patients

Medication Errors

Inadequate Training For Particular

Assignment

Patient Falls

Faulty Equipments

Inadequate Communication

Failure To Follow Proper Policies /

Procedures