Final answer:
The critical components of nursing are compassion, holistic care, and ethical practice, all of which embody the integrated approach of nursing towards patient care. Care ethics further illustrates the importance of these components by emphasizing relationships, caring values, and personalized ethical considerations in healthcare contexts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question about the key components of nursing leads us to the answer: d) All of the Above. These key components encompass compassion, holistic care, and ethical practice, embodying the comprehensive approach nursing takes in patient care. Compassion is intrinsic to nursing as it underpins the empathetic approach nurses require to provide care. Holistic care refers to addressing the full range of physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of the patient. Ethical practice involves adhering to a set of professional standards that ensure patient care is conducted with integrity and respect for individuals' rights.
In relation to ethics and care, the discussion on care ethics provides a framework for understanding these components of nursing. Care ethics emphasizes the importance of relationships and is characterized by attributes traditionally associated with care roles, often undertaken by women. In Nel Noddings's seminal work, she advocates for an 'ethics built on caring', arguing for the significance of care-based values in ethical deliberation. These values are particularly relevant in the contexts of medicine and nursing, where caring for others is a foundational aspect.
Understanding the connection between care ethics and nursing practice is crucial as it guides how nurses interact with patients and make decisions that impact their well-being. This approach promotes a personalized and empathetic method of healthcare that stands in contrast to solely rule-based ethics.