University Nursing Discussion: Bioethical Principles in Healthcare

This discussion post delves into the critical application of bioethical principles in healthcare, focusing on autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. The author reflects on how these principles guide clinical practice, particularly in nursing, to ensure patient-centered care. Autonomy is discussed in terms of informed consent and patient dignity. Beneficence emphasizes delivering beneficial treatments and adhering to evidence-based practices. Non-maleficence highlights the importance of avoiding harm through safe practices. Justice underscores the need for fair treatment and equitable resource allocation. The post references key literature to support the practical application of these principles, emphasizing their role in ethical decision-making and positive patient outcomes.

Running head: Nursing
Nursing
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Authors Note

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Discussion
The bio ethical principles are very much critical to be applied and incorporated in the
clinical framework as because they are important to deliver a more accurate patient centred
care in hospital or a nursing home scenario (Harif& Stefan, 2017). The purpose of the
discussion is to reflect on four ethical rules used in the clinical practice such as autonomy,
beneficence, non-maleficence and justice.
Autonomy
The first of the bioethical principle is autonomy is about taking informed consent
from the patient when taking any decisions or before any medical or nursing intervention that
is being delivered to the patient (Bakon et al., 2016). While it is very critical that the
autonomy as in dignity, esteem and the right of the patient to participate with will in the
process is exercised properly. Autonomy is a very critical nursing principle that can be used
to develop rapport with the patient (Emergency Nurses Association 2019). Autonomy is
applied in taking informed consent, shared decision making with the patient and the family of
the patient. Autonomy also refers to paying dignity and respect to the patient. I can
comprehend that the need of the autonomy should be considered with priority as this can help
me as well as the patient to take proper decision regarding care and obtaining positive
outcome.
Beneficence
Beneficence is another vital nursing principle that has to practice in order to deliver a
beneficial and positive treatment or experience to the subject in the hospital. The bioethical
principle of beneficence can be referred to delivering the right interventions in the right time
to the patient, so has to have positive outcomes. Following the evidence based practice
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policies so as to present any clinically fatal error such as hand hygiene or medication
admiration error is important to be controlled. Hence, I can reflect that the need of the quality
and understanding for the better outcome for the patient should be considered by me for
maintaining beneficence.
Non-maleficence
The bioethical principle of non-maleficence refers to the refrainment from providing
any harmful services to the subject or patient and strict evidence based practice guidelines has
to be followed by the nurses in order to comply with safe service. The principle of non-
maleficence is applied in a clinical scenario within the environment of hospitals and nursing
homes (Wallhult& Quinn, 2018). As a nurse I should comprehend the understanding of the
safe and quality care providence to the patient in order to maintain the non-maleficence in the
clinical scenario.
Justice
The bioethical principle of justice is very important and the ethical principle actually
refers to act of being justified when providing the services to the subject. Doing justice to the
needs and condition of patient against any financial or ethical complication is very vital and
this is one of the central facets of the service (Juujärvi, Ronkainen & Silvennoinen, 2019). To
apply justice in the clinical scenario – I as a nurse must first understand and comprehend the
will of the patient and then when if the patient is not in a situation to understand the
interventions – the right judgement skills are required to be prioritized by me to determine
what treatments are to be given in order to have a positive outcome.
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References
Bakon, S., Craft, J., Christensen, M., &Wirihana, L. (2016). Can active learning principles be
applied to the bioscience assessments of nursing students? A review of the
literature. Nurse education today, 37, 123-127.
Emergency Nurses Association. (2019). Sheehy's Emergency Nursing-E-Book: Principles
and Practice. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Harif, M., & Stefan, D. C. (2017). Nursing Care Principles in Pediatric Oncology.
In Pediatric Cancer in Africa (pp. 349-355). Springer, Cham.
Juujärvi, S., Ronkainen, K., & Silvennoinen, P. (2019). The ethics of care and justice in
primary nursing of older patients. Clinical Ethics, 14(4), 187-194.
Wallhult, E., & Quinn, B. (2018). Early and acute complications and the principles of HSCT
nursing care. In The European blood and marrow transplantation textbook for
nurses (pp. 163-195). Springer, Cham.
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