Nursing Ethics and Law
Nursing practice is governed by ethical principles and the law. Nurses must uphold patient rights, confidentiality, and professional accountability.
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What you must know about Nursing Ethics & Law
Core ethical principles: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and fidelity.
Autonomy is the patient’s right to make their own informed decisions.
Beneficence means acting in the patient’s best interest; non-maleficence means "do no harm".
Informed consent must be voluntary, informed, and given by a competent person.
Confidentiality protects patient information; breaching it is an ethical and legal violation.
Negligence occurs when substandard care causes harm to a patient.
NMCN Exam Tips
How this topic appears in the NMCN exam
Autonomy = patient’s right to decide (including the right to refuse treatment).
Non-maleficence = "do no harm".
Confidentiality is both an ethical and legal duty.
Valid consent must be voluntary, informed, and by a competent person.
Practice Question
Test yourself
A competent adult patient refuses a recommended treatment. Respecting the patient's decision reflects which ethical principle?
Explanation
Autonomy is the ethical principle that recognises a competent patient's right to make their own informed decisions about their care, including the right to refuse treatment. The nurse must respect this even if they disagree.
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