Ethics In Nursing

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Recommended: American nurses association the code for nurses

The American Nurses Association Code for Nurses discusses the ethical behavior for nurses and the best course of action in a certain situation. Nurses can be evaluated by a set of standards which determines how well the nurse understands how the law applies specifically to them. Four of the most important ethical principles are beneficence, nonmaleficence, respect for autonomy, and justice (Murray & McKinney, 2006). Other important ethical rules, such as accountability and confidentiality, are derived from these four basic principles. These principles guide decision making and analyze what is morally right and reasonable. Legal and ethical issues in healthcare of minors are informed consent, emancipated minors and reproductive services.
Healthcare providers have a legal and ethical responsibility to protect the rights of minors by assuring that they are well informed, confidentiality is protected, and they participate in decision making. Informed consent is an ethical concept that has been passed into law because it ensures patients receive adequate information. Patients have the right to decide whether to accept or reject treatment options as part of their right to function independently. To make wise decisions, they need full information about treatments offered.
Specific requirements must be met before consent is considered informed. First, the patient must be competent, or able to think through a situation and make rational decisions. Infants, children, and patients who are comatose or severely mentally retarded are incapable of making such decisions. A patient who has received drugs that impair the ability to think is temporarily incompetent. In these cases another person is appointed to make decisions for the patient. The s...

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...nition that a minor lives independently and is legally responsible for his or her own support and decision making (Hickey, 2007). Emancipation can occur through an official court proceeding and the judge will determine whether the minor is living on his or her own and financially stable. In some states, a minor may become automatically emancipated by marrying, joining the military, or becoming a parent before the age of majority (Potts & Mandleco, 2012). Emancipation laws vary from state to state, and some states do not officially recognize any form of emancipation.
Legal and ethical decision making presents a challenge for nurses in the delivery of health care. Health care is often controlled by state laws and regulations. Identifying the elements of informed consent, reproductive services and emancipation of minors will be essential for nurses to provide care.

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