Biomaterial Database

Beneficence and autonomy in nursing. A moral dilemma. 2004

Wendy Kennedy

Singleton Hospital, Swansea.

Nurses frequently have to make decisions which require moral judgements, influenced by the ethical standards expected of the profession. They have a duty of care, promoting good, and minimising harm, whilst acting in the patients' best interests. In complicated situations it is not uncommon to wonder whether further ethical consideration is pertinent before a decision or action is made.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007258	Informed Consent	Voluntary authorization, by a patient or research subject, with full comprehension of the risks involved, for diagnostic or investigative procedures, and for medical and surgical treatment.	Consent, Informed
D010344	Patient Advocacy	Promotion and protection of the rights of patients, frequently through a legal process.	Patient Ombudsmen,Patient Representatives,Clinical Ombudsman,Patient Ombudsman,Advocacy, Patient,Ombudsman, Clinical,Ombudsman, Patient,Ombudsmen, Patient,Patient Representative,Representative, Patient,Representatives, Patient
D010687	Philosophy, Nursing	The underlying rationale or theoretical basis for the principles of NURSING.	Nursing Philosophy,Nursing Philosophies,Philosophies, Nursing
D010819	Physician's Role	The expected function of a member of the medical profession.	Physicians' Role,Physician Role,Physician's Roles,Physicians Role,Physicians' Roles,Role, Physician's,Role, Physicians',Roles, Physician's,Roles, Physicians'
D003220	Conflict, Psychological	The internal individual struggle resulting from incompatible or opposing needs, drives, or external and internal demands. In group interactions, competitive or opposing action of incompatibles: antagonistic state or action (as of divergent ideas, interests, or persons). (from Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 10th ed)	Conflict, Psychology,Psychological Conflict,Psychological Conflicts
D003657	Decision Making	The process of making a selective intellectual judgment when presented with several complex alternatives consisting of several variables, and usually defining a course of action or an idea.	Credit Assignment,Assignment, Credit,Assignments, Credit,Credit Assignments
D004993	Ethics, Nursing	The principles of proper professional conduct concerning the rights and duties of nurses themselves, their patients, and their fellow practitioners, as well as their actions in the care of patients and in relations with their families.	Nursing Ethics,Ethic, Nursing,Nursing Ethic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D024802	Nurse's Role	The expected function of a member of the nursing profession.	Nurse's Scope of Practice,Nurses Role,Nurses' Role,Nurse Role,Nurse Scope, Practice,Nurse's Roles,Nurses Roles,Nurses Scope, Practice,Nurses' Roles,Practice Nurse's Scope,Practice Nurse's Scopes,Role, Nurse's,Role, Nurses,Role, Nurses',Roles, Nurse's,Roles, Nurses,Roles, Nurses'
D026684	Personal Autonomy	Self-directing freedom and especially moral independence. An ethical principle holds that the autonomy of persons ought to be respected. (Bioethics Thesaurus)	Autonomy, Personal,Free Will,Self Determination