Final answer:
The principle that emphasizes life over the limb in nursing care is 'Principle systemic before local (life before limb)'. This principle prioritizes life-preserving interventions in emergency situations. The application of this principle is aligned with preserving life but does not reduce the importance of equitable treatment in healthcare.
Step-by-step explanation:
The principle that takes precedence in prioritizing nursing care, emphasizing life over limb, is the Principle systemic before local (life before limb). This principle dictates that in a medical emergency or a situation where a patient's life is in danger, the priority is to perform interventions that preserve life above all else. This approach is aligned with the core value of preserving the fundamental right to life and is a guiding principle in emergency medical care and disaster triage.
In the context of the principle of justice in healthcare, while it is important to treat all patients equitably, in life-threatening situations the immediate focus is on interventions that save lives, which can sometimes override the assignment of resources based on fairness considerations alone. For example, in a case where two patients are in need of assistance, one with a life-threatening condition and the other with a non-life-threatening injury, the principle of life before limb would dictate attending to the life-threatening condition first.
It is important to note, however, that the application of this principle does not negate the importance of treating all patients with fairness and equity once the immediate life-threatening situation has been addressed.