Nursing Jurisprudence and Ethics for Texas Nurses Practice Exam

Which ethical principle requires nurses to keep their knowledge and skills current?

1. Justice

2. Nonmaleficence

3. Fidelity

4. Autonomy

The correct answer is: Fidelity

The ethical principle that requires nurses to keep their knowledge and skills current is fidelity. Fidelity pertains to the commitment healthcare professionals have to uphold their duties and responsibilities to their patients, which includes a promise to deliver competent and up-to-date care. By staying current with knowledge and skills, nurses demonstrate their dedication to patient safety and effective treatment, ensuring that they fulfill their obligation to provide the highest standard of care. This commitment is not only about maintaining licensure or certification but also about continuous learning and adapting to new technologies, treatments, or evidence-based practices that directly impact patient outcomes. When nurses invest in their professional development, they honor their ethical obligation to provide quality care, which is ultimately an act of fidelity to their patients. In contrast, other ethical principles, such as justice, focus on fairness and equality in patient care; nonmaleficence emphasizes the duty to do no harm; and autonomy supports a patient's right to make their own choices regarding their healthcare. While these principles are crucial in nursing practice, they do not specifically address the continuous updating of professional knowledge and skills like fidelity does.