Question

The nurse administers an incorrect medication to a patient and does not complete an incident report. Which ethical principle does the nurse violate?

1) Autonomy
2) Confidentiality
3) Veracity
4) Beneficence

Answer 1

The nurse violated the principle of veracity by not completing an incident report, failing to acknowledge the error and undermining the patient-provider trust.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the scenario where a nurse administers an incorrect medication and fails to report the incident, the ethical principle most directly violated is veracity. The principle of veracity obligates healthcare providers to tell the truth and be honest with their patients.

By not completing an incident report, the nurse fails to acknowledge the error and take responsibility, which undermines trust in the patient-care provider relationship and violates the patient's right to be informed about their care. It is important to note that other ethical principles, such as nonmaleficence (avoiding harm), might also be indirectly violated, as the failure to report the error prevents the organization from taking corrective actions that may prevent future harm.