Nursing Jurisprudence and Ethics for Texas Nurses Practice Exam

Ethical theories serve as a crucial framework for nurses by guiding their decision-making processes. They help ensure that the care provided aligns with both patient rights and the core professional principles that govern nursing practice. For instance, ethical theories such as utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics all offer various perspectives that can help nurses navigate complex situations, balancing patient needs with moral considerations.

By applying these theories, nurses can make informed, ethically sound decisions that respect patient autonomy, promote beneficence, and prevent harm. This guidance is particularly important in a field where nurses frequently encounter dilemmas that require careful consideration of ethical implications. Therefore, ethical theories are not just abstract concepts; they are essential tools that support nurses in upholding their responsibilities toward patients and the profession as a whole.

The other options do not accurately capture the significance of ethical theories in nursing. Financial decisions in healthcare, while important, are not the primary focus of ethical theories. Irrelevance to nursing practice contradicts the essential role that ethics plays in patient care. Additionally, while ethical frameworks provide guidance, they do not dictate rigid actions to be taken in every situation, as nursing practice requires flexibility and critical thinking based on individual circumstances and context.