Nursing Jurisprudence and Ethics for Texas Nurses Practice Exam

What is the principle of "nonmaleficence" in nursing ethics?

1. The obligation to maintain patient confidentiality

2. The obligation to avoid causing harm to patients

3. The obligation to provide the highest quality of care

4. The obligation to act in the patient's best interest

The correct answer is: The obligation to avoid causing harm to patients

The principle of nonmaleficence in nursing ethics refers specifically to the obligation to avoid causing harm to patients. This foundational ethical tenet underscores the importance of nurses being vigilant in their actions, ensuring that their practices do not inflict harm, whether it be physical, psychological, or emotional. Nurses are required to critically assess interventions for their potential risks and benefits, prioritizing patient safety and well-being as fundamental to their practice. In the context of nursing, nonmaleficence transcends mere absence of harm; it emphasizes active efforts taken to prevent harm from occurring and requires nurses to be knowledgeable and skilled in their practices to mitigate any potential risks. This principle works hand-in-hand with other ethical obligations, such as beneficence, which focuses on actions that promote patient well-being. The other options, while important ethical principles in nursing, do not specifically define nonmaleficence. Maintaining patient confidentiality pertains to the ethical obligation of confidentiality, providing high-quality care relates to the principle of beneficence, and acting in the patient’s best interest aligns more with the principle of advocating for the patient’s needs and preferences. Each of these principles plays a role in nursing ethics, but they do not capture the essence of nonmaleficence