5 Ethics and Professional Responsibilities Free Online FlashCards

What does autonomy mean in nursing ethics?

Respect a person’s capacity and right to make informed choices, including refusing treatment.

What is beneficence?

Act to promote the patient’s well-being.

What does nonmaleficence require?

Avoid causing preventable harm and reduce foreseeable risks.

What does justice mean in nursing ethics?

Treat people fairly and distribute care and resources equitably.

What is veracity?

Communicate truthfully.

What does fidelity require of a nurse?

Keep professional commitments and follow through on responsibilities.

How should a nurse respond when a patient declines a potentially beneficial treatment?

Listen, ensure the patient has understandable information and a chance to ask questions, then communicate the decision to the care team without pressure.

How can a nurse support informed decision-making?

Use language the patient understands, invite questions, and identify when an interpreter or another accommodation is needed.

Name key patient rights recognized in U.S. hospitals.

They include participating in care planning, making informed decisions, requesting or refusing treatment, and having clinical records kept confidential.

How do confidentiality and privacy differ?

Confidentiality is the duty to protect information learned through professional care. Privacy concerns a person’s control over access to their body, personal space, and information.

What does the HIPAA Privacy Rule do?

For covered entities, it sets safeguards and limits for using and disclosing protected health information and gives individuals rights concerning their records, including access and requests for correction.

A relative asks for a patient’s test results. What should the nurse check before sharing?

Check the patient’s preferences and applicable policy first; being a relative does not by itself establish permission to disclose information.