Question

A nurse is using the principles of virtue ethics in decision making. Which of the following describes the action that the nurse would take?

a.Provide efficient and effective nursing care
b.Identify the meaningful facts in the situation
c.Seek ethical community support to enhance character development
d.Plan ways to restructure the social practices that oppress women

Answer 1

A nurse guided by virtue ethics would seek community support to enhance character development, focusing on virtues like compassion and empathy to inform caregiving, aligned with the values central to care ethics.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nurse using the principles of virtue ethics in decision making will act in a way that reflects character-centered virtues, such as compassion, sympathy, and kindness, which are central to care ethics. When applying these ethics to medical practice, the nurse would prioritize caring relationships and the subjective, concrete factors specific to each situation, aligning with the feminist care ethics emphasis on the values and integrity emerging from interpersonal relationships, especially those traditionally associated with women's caregiving roles.

Based on care ethics, the nurse would likely seek ethical community support to enhance character development. This action demonstrates a commitment to nurturing the type of virtues deemed essential for good character, which, in turn, influence the quality of care provided to patients. Such virtues include empathy, responsiveness, and attention to the detailed context of each patient’s situation, rather than adhering strictly to abstract rules or principles.