Ethical and Bioethical Issues in Nursing
All nurses will be faced with ethical and bioethical issues in their professional nursing practice. In
this paper you will identify ethical theories and principles and identify how they will serve as a
basis for your practice. The student will discuss moral theory and development, and how this will
impact your professional practice. The student will identify a common ethical dilemma in their
chosen area of nursing and discuss ethical principles that will guide their care and how they will
use moral integrity to work within these often-complicated scenarios.
This assignment is an APA paper and should include:
Title page- see example provided in Modules.
Headings per APA
Heading #1 –
• Should be the title of your paper that is listed on the Title Page (bold print and centered).
• Introduction paragraph with a purpose statement.
Heading #2 – Ethical Theory – Utilitarianism and Deontology
• Define and apply with clinical examples the ethical theories of Utilitarianism and
Deontology.
• Reference and discuss The American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics for Nurses
and how it guide the professional nursing practice.
Heading #3 – Ethical Principles – Autonomy, Beneficence and Nonmaleficence, Veracity
• Discuss each ethical principle and
• give a clinical example of how you have seen ea
Ethical Theory – Utilitarianism and Deontology
Ethical theories provide structured frameworks for analyzing moral problems and determining the right course of action. Two foundational theories frequently applied in healthcare are Utilitarianism and Deontology.
Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism, as an ethical theory, judges the morality of an action based on its outcome or consequence. The most ethical choice is the one that results in the greatest good for the greatest number of people. It is a consequentialist theory, meaning the end justifies the means.
Clinical Application: In public health or disaster nursing, Utilitarianism is often used in triage. For example, during a mass casualty event, a nurse may prioritize treatment for victims with the highest chance of survival (saving the greatest number of lives) over those with critical, time-consuming injuries who have a low prognosis, even though the latter may be sicker.
Deontology
Deontology, or duty-based ethics, holds that the morality of an action is based on whether the action itself adheres to a set of rules or moral duties, regardless of the outcome. Actions are judged inherently right or wrong. For a deontologist, intent and adherence to duty are paramount.
Clinical Application: A strict deontological approach requires the nurse to follow a moral rule absolutely. For instance, the duty of Veracity (truth-telling) would demand that a nurse must always tell the truth to a patient about their diagnosis, even if the family requests that the information be withheld to spare the patient distress. The nurse is obligated to uphold the duty of truth-telling to the patient, regardless of the potential negative emotional outcome.
The American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics for Nurses
The ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses serves as the non-negotiable ethical standard for the nursing profession. It is a powerful deontological guide, outlining the professional duties and ethical obligations of every nurse. The Code mandates the protection of the patient's rights, promotion of health, and the advocacy for justice in healthcare.
Sample Answer
Ethical and Bioethical Issues in Nursing Practice: A Foundation for Care
The practice of professional nursing is intrinsically linked to ethical and bioethical considerations. Nurses function at the interface of technology, human vulnerability, and complex value systems, inevitably encountering dilemmas that challenge their judgment and moral integrity. This paper will identify foundational ethical theories and principles—Utilitarianism, Deontology, Autonomy, Beneficence, Nonmaleficence, and Veracity—and discuss how they serve as the basis for professional practice, guided by the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics for Nurses. Furthermore, it will explore moral development, analyze a common ethical dilemma in pediatric nursing, and detail the application of these principles to guide care.