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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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.

References[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

Nursing ethics Resources
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