Question

The nurse is educating a coworker on the ethical principle of beneficence. The nurse judges the teaching to be effective when her coworker states:

1) "Beneficence involves allowing patients to make their own health care decisions."
2) "Beneficence is the duty to actively do good for patients."
3) "Beneficence is the duty to do no harm."
4) "Beneficence involves treating all patients equally."

Answer 1

The ethical principle of beneficence is correctly understood when a coworker states it involves the duty to actively do good for patients, distinct from autonomy and nonmaleficence.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse's teaching on the ethical principle of beneficence would be judged effective when the coworker states that "Beneficence is the duty to actively do good for patients." This principle is central to healthcare practice and mandates that healthcare professionals should take actions that benefit patients and contribute to their welfare. This is distinct from the principle of autonomy, which affirms the patient's right to make their own healthcare decisions, and the principle of nonmaleficence, which emphasizes the duty to not harm.

In the context of clinical settings, the principle of beneficence means that a nurse or healthcare provider actively seeks to provide care that improves the patient's health and well-being. This can include providing treatments that result in the most benefit, offering comfort and pain relief, and facilitating other forms of supportive care. Importantly, beneficence should guide healthcare providers to consider the best interests of patients when making clinical decisions.