A nurse follows the "ethics of care" when working with patients. Which action will the nurse take?
A) Becomes the patient's advocate based on the patient's wishes
B) Makes decisions for the patient solely using analytical principles
C) Uses only intellectual principles to determine what is best for the patient
D) Ignores unequal family relationships since that is a personal matter for the family

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An ethic of care places the nurse as the patient's advocate, solving ethical dilemmas by attending to relationships and by giving priority to each patient's unique personhood. An ethic of care is unique so that professional nurses do not make professional decisions based solely on intellectual or analytical principles. Instead, an ethic of care places "caring" at the center of decision making. Nurses who function from an ethic of care are sensitive to unequal relationships that lead to abuse of one person's power over another-intentional or otherwise.

A Nurse Follows the "Ethics of Care" When Working with Patients