Leik Professional Role Review
Beneficence - Answer-The obligation to help the patient—to remove harm, prevent harm, and promote
good ("do no harm").
Beneficence Examples - Answer-Educating patient with a new prescription about how to take the
medication
Encouraging a patient to stop smoking and enroll in smoking cessation program
Calling the surgeon to get a prescription for stronger pain medications (a narcotic) for a postsurgical
patient who complains of severe pain
Nonmaleficence - Answer-The obligation to avoid harm. Protecting a patient from harm.
Nonmaleficence Example - Answer-Choosing not to prescribe a medication because of the patient's
medical history/contraindication to the med
Utilitarianism - Answer-The obligation to act in a way that is useful to or benefits the majority.
To use a resource for the most benefit, with lowest possible negative outcomes.
Utilitarianism Example - Answer-The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and
Children (WIC) is for only pregnant women and children, not other adults and elderly men. The reason
may be that it would cost society more if women (and their fetuses), infants, and children are harmed by
inadequate food intake (e.g., affects the brain growth).
Justice - Answer-The quality of being fair and acting with a lack of bias. The fair and equitable
distribution of societal resources.
,Justice Example - Answer-A homeless alcoholic man without health insurance presents to the ED with
abdominal pain. The patient is triaged and treated in the same manner as the other patients who have
health insurance.
Dignity - Answer-The quality or state of being worthy of ethical and respectful treatment.
Dignity Example - Answer-Hospital gowns should be secured correctly so that when patients get up to
walk, their backs are not visible.
Foley catheter urine bags should not be visible to visitors so patients are not embarrassed. NPs should
move urine bags to the opposite bed rail so that they are not visible to outsiders.
Fidelity - Answer-The obligation to maintain trust in relationships. Dedication and loyalty to one's
patients. Keeping one's promise.
Fidelity Example - Answer-The relationship between a patient and their healthcare team is important.
The primary care NP should try their best to develop a trusting relationship with a patient.
Confidentiality - Answer-The obligation to protect the patient's identity, personal information, test
results, medical records, conversations, and other health information.
Autonomy - Answer-The obligation to ensure that mentally competent adult patients have the right to
make their own health decisions and express treatment preferences. If the patient is mentally
incapacitated (dementia, coma), the designated surrogate's choices are respected.
Autonomy Example - Answer-An alert elderly woman who has breast cancer decides to have a
lumpectomy after discussing the treatment options with her oncologist. The woman's daughter tells the
NP that she does not want her mother to have the surgery because she thinks her mother is too old. The
NP has a duty to respect the patient's decision. This case is also a good example of the NP acting as the
patient advocate.
, Accountability - Answer-Healthcare providers are responsible for their own choices and actions and do
not blame others for their mistakes.
Accountability Example - Answer-The NP made an error in diagnosis and is held accountable for the
decision and actions in a court of law.
Paternalism - Answer-one person interferes with or overrules the autonomy of another.
Paternalism Example - Answer-provider or family member makes decisions for an elderly patient
because they "believe" that it is in the patient's best interest. The opinion (or desire) of the patient is
minimized or ignored. The patient is "powerless."
Veracity - Answer-The obligation to present information honestly and truthfully. In order for patients to
make an informed and rational decision about their healthcare, pertinent information (including "bad"
news) should not be withheld or omitted.
Veracity Example - Answer-The mammogram result of a 64-year-old female patient is highly indicative of
breast cancer. The patient's son does not want his mother to know about the results. The NP has a duty
to discuss the mammogram results with the patient and refer her to a breast surgeon.
The ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses - Answer-the ethical standard for the profession and provides a guide
for nurses to use in ethical analysis and decision-making
-the Code is a nonnegotiable standard
-Each nurse "has an obligation to uphold and adhere to the code of ethics."
Nurses may not delegate responsibilities such as evaluation and assessment, but may delegate selected
intervention according to the state nursing practice acts is an example of? - Answer-Code of ethics
Ombudsman - Answer-A person who acts as an intermediary (or as a liaison) between the patient and an
organization (long-term care facilities or nursing homes, hospitals, governmental agencies, courts). The
Beneficence - Answer-The obligation to help the patient—to remove harm, prevent harm, and promote
good ("do no harm").
Beneficence Examples - Answer-Educating patient with a new prescription about how to take the
medication
Encouraging a patient to stop smoking and enroll in smoking cessation program
Calling the surgeon to get a prescription for stronger pain medications (a narcotic) for a postsurgical
patient who complains of severe pain
Nonmaleficence - Answer-The obligation to avoid harm. Protecting a patient from harm.
Nonmaleficence Example - Answer-Choosing not to prescribe a medication because of the patient's
medical history/contraindication to the med
Utilitarianism - Answer-The obligation to act in a way that is useful to or benefits the majority.
To use a resource for the most benefit, with lowest possible negative outcomes.
Utilitarianism Example - Answer-The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and
Children (WIC) is for only pregnant women and children, not other adults and elderly men. The reason
may be that it would cost society more if women (and their fetuses), infants, and children are harmed by
inadequate food intake (e.g., affects the brain growth).
Justice - Answer-The quality of being fair and acting with a lack of bias. The fair and equitable
distribution of societal resources.
,Justice Example - Answer-A homeless alcoholic man without health insurance presents to the ED with
abdominal pain. The patient is triaged and treated in the same manner as the other patients who have
health insurance.
Dignity - Answer-The quality or state of being worthy of ethical and respectful treatment.
Dignity Example - Answer-Hospital gowns should be secured correctly so that when patients get up to
walk, their backs are not visible.
Foley catheter urine bags should not be visible to visitors so patients are not embarrassed. NPs should
move urine bags to the opposite bed rail so that they are not visible to outsiders.
Fidelity - Answer-The obligation to maintain trust in relationships. Dedication and loyalty to one's
patients. Keeping one's promise.
Fidelity Example - Answer-The relationship between a patient and their healthcare team is important.
The primary care NP should try their best to develop a trusting relationship with a patient.
Confidentiality - Answer-The obligation to protect the patient's identity, personal information, test
results, medical records, conversations, and other health information.
Autonomy - Answer-The obligation to ensure that mentally competent adult patients have the right to
make their own health decisions and express treatment preferences. If the patient is mentally
incapacitated (dementia, coma), the designated surrogate's choices are respected.
Autonomy Example - Answer-An alert elderly woman who has breast cancer decides to have a
lumpectomy after discussing the treatment options with her oncologist. The woman's daughter tells the
NP that she does not want her mother to have the surgery because she thinks her mother is too old. The
NP has a duty to respect the patient's decision. This case is also a good example of the NP acting as the
patient advocate.
, Accountability - Answer-Healthcare providers are responsible for their own choices and actions and do
not blame others for their mistakes.
Accountability Example - Answer-The NP made an error in diagnosis and is held accountable for the
decision and actions in a court of law.
Paternalism - Answer-one person interferes with or overrules the autonomy of another.
Paternalism Example - Answer-provider or family member makes decisions for an elderly patient
because they "believe" that it is in the patient's best interest. The opinion (or desire) of the patient is
minimized or ignored. The patient is "powerless."
Veracity - Answer-The obligation to present information honestly and truthfully. In order for patients to
make an informed and rational decision about their healthcare, pertinent information (including "bad"
news) should not be withheld or omitted.
Veracity Example - Answer-The mammogram result of a 64-year-old female patient is highly indicative of
breast cancer. The patient's son does not want his mother to know about the results. The NP has a duty
to discuss the mammogram results with the patient and refer her to a breast surgeon.
The ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses - Answer-the ethical standard for the profession and provides a guide
for nurses to use in ethical analysis and decision-making
-the Code is a nonnegotiable standard
-Each nurse "has an obligation to uphold and adhere to the code of ethics."
Nurses may not delegate responsibilities such as evaluation and assessment, but may delegate selected
intervention according to the state nursing practice acts is an example of? - Answer-Code of ethics
Ombudsman - Answer-A person who acts as an intermediary (or as a liaison) between the patient and an
organization (long-term care facilities or nursing homes, hospitals, governmental agencies, courts). The
