Question

Difficulty: MediumEthical Practice

Match each ethical principle to the nursing action that best demonstrates its clinical application.

  • FidelityA nurse strictly honors a commitment to return to the client's room promptly at 1400 to assist with a video call.
  • VeracityA nurse provides accurate, factual information regarding a terminal diagnosis when directly asked by the competent client.
  • JusticeA charge nurse allocates a limited number of telemetry monitors based strictly on objective clinical acuity criteria.
  • NonmaleficenceA nurse questions a provider's prescription for a high-dose opioid after observing the client's declining level of consciousness.

Answer

Fidelity pairs with honoring a commitment to return at 1400. Veracity pairs with providing accurate terminal diagnosis information. Justice pairs with allocating telemetry monitors based on acuity. Nonmaleficence pairs with questioning a dangerous opioid prescription.
The correct pairings accurately reflect foundational ethical principles. Fidelity is demonstrated by keeping a promised timeline for a client's video call. Veracity involves telling the truth, seen when answering a competent client honestly about a diagnosis. Justice requires the fair allocation of resources, which the charge nurse accomplishes using acuity criteria for monitors. Nonmaleficence mandates doing no harm, which is upheld by questioning a potentially dangerous medication order for a sedated client.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze each clinical scenario to determine the primary ethical concern driving the nurse's behavior.
Identified themes of promise-keeping, truth-telling, fair resource distribution, and harm prevention.
Understanding the underlying motivation of each action allows for accurate pairing with theoretical principles.
2
Match Fidelity and Veracity to their respective communication-based actions.
Fidelity is linked to keeping the promised 1400 appointment; Veracity is linked to honestly answering the client's questions about their prognosis.
Fidelity dictates keeping one's word, while veracity specifically governs the obligation to tell the truth.
3
Match Justice and Nonmaleficence to their respective care-delivery actions.
Justice is linked to the fair distribution of telemetry monitors; Nonmaleficence is linked to intervening to stop an unsafe opioid dose.
Justice ensures equitable treatment across a population, whereas nonmaleficence focuses on protecting individual clients from harm.

Key Concept

Application of Core Ethical Principles in Nursing Practice
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