While providing care, the nurse provides freedom to the patient to make a decision. Which of the following ethical principles is the nurse following?

Appeared in: UPUMS Nsg officer-2023

Explanation

Autonomy, which is defined as the freedom from external control and the right to self-determination.
The scenario describes a nurse giving a patient 'freedom to make a decision,' which is the core concept of respecting patient autonomy.
Upholding autonomy involves including patients in decisions about all aspects of their care, which is a key feature of patient-centered care.
Nursing actions that promote autonomy include obtaining informed consent, explaining procedures, and supporting a patient's right to refuse treatment.

Option A: Justice refers to fairness and equality in the distribution of care and resources, not the patient's right to make individual decisions.
Option C: Veracity is the principle of truth-telling. While important, it does not directly relate to the patient's freedom to choose.
Option D: Beneficence is the principle of 'doing good' and taking positive actions to help others. It focuses on the nurse's actions to benefit the patient, not the patient's right to decide.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Ethical Principles in Nursing to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Respecting patient autonomy is a daily nursing responsibility, crucial for building trust and ensuring legal and ethical standards are met, particularly in obtaining informed consent.
Nurses act as patient advocates by ensuring patients have all the necessary information to make autonomous decisions and that their choices are respected by the healthcare team.
What if the patient is a minor or is deemed incompetent to make decisions? In such cases, the principle of autonomy is extended to the legal guardian or surrogate decision-maker, who then makes decisions in the patient's best interest.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core action or concept in the question stem. Here, the key phrase is 'provides freedom to the patient to make a decision.'
Next, recall the definitions of the four ethical principles listed in the options.
Match the action from the stem to its corresponding definition.
Autonomy directly relates to self-determination and the freedom to choose.
Differentiate this from the other principles: Justice (fairness), Veracity (truth), and Beneficence (doing good) to confirm the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Ethical Principles in Nursing
Stem keywords: providing care, freedom to the patient, make a decision, ethical principles
Lead-in keywords: Which of the following

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E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 2 p. 81-83

E6 Pharmacology Nursing Lilley 11e Part 1 p. 75-77

Practise the full UPUMS Nsg officer-2023

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.