Some nurses are debating about the appropriate action to take in relation to a particular family.One member of the family is ill,and the other family members have chosen to continue working rather than take time off to care for the ill family member.One nurse states,"It's not up to us; it's the family's decision.They know what is best for them." Which of the following ethical approaches is being used by this nurse?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse is using an ethical principle,namely autonomy,in which each person or group can choose those actions that fulfill its values and goals.Therefore,the nurse is using principlism-that is,basic principles are the basis of the nurse's actions.Communitarianism is similar to virtue ethics and looks at the relationship and respoinsibility between the individual and the community.The ethical approach of deontology describes adhering to moral rules or duty rather than to the consequences of the actions.Utilitarianism is a consequentialist ethical theory associated with outcomes or consequences in determining which choice to make.

Some Nurses Are Debating About the Appropriate Action to Take