Question

A nurse decides to withhold a medication because it will further lower a patients respiratory rate. In this case, the nurse is practicing what principle?

a. Responsibility
b. Privacy
c. Ethics
d. Moral behavior

Answer 1

Withholding medication to prevent harm aligns with the principle of non maleficence, demonstrating the nurse's ethical practice in health care.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a nurse decides to withhold a medication to prevent further lowering a patient's respiratory rate, they are practicing the principle of nonmaleficence. This principle dictates that health care providers should act in ways that do not cause harm to patients.

In this scenario, administering a drug that could potentially decrease the patient's respiratory rate further would be harmful, thus withholding it is in alignment with the principle of nonmaleficence, which is a core component of ethical practice in medicine. This principle, along with autonomy, beneficence, and justice, guides health care providers in making difficult decisions that involve the well-being of their patients.

Nonmaleficence is the principle that requires healthcare professionals to avoid causing harm to the patient. In this case, the nurse decides to withhold the medication because it would further lower the patient's respiratory rate, which could harm the patient. By prioritizing the patient's well-being and safety, the nurse is practicing the principle of nonmaleficence.