A nurse working in a labor and birth unit is asked to take care of two high-risk patients in the labor and birth suite: a 34 weeks' gestation 28-year-old gravida 3, para 2 in preterm labor and a 40-year-old gravida 1, para 0 who is severely preeclamptic. The nurse refuses this assignment telling the charge nurse that based on individual patient acuity, each patient should have one-on-one care. Which ethical principle is the nurse advocating?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In this situation, the patients are each exhibiting significant high-risk conditions and should receive individual nursing care. The nurse is advocating the principle of beneficence in that she is trying to do the "greatest good or the least harm" to improve patient outcomes. The other ethical principles do not apply in this situation.

A Nurse Working in a Labor and Birth Unit Is