Question

A new nurse observes their preceptor giving the incorrect dosage of a medication to a patient. Implementing the ethical principle veracity, what action would the new nurse take?

a. Keep the information confidential to avoid repercussions from the preceptor.
b. Inform the charge nurse about what happened and document it.
c. Since the patient was not harmed, do not report the incident.
d. Tell only the patient about the incident and have them decide what to do.

Answer 1

The new nurse should report the incorrect dosage to the charge nurse and document the incident, applying the principle of veracity. This action upholds patient safety, nonmaleficence, and the integrity of the healthcare system.

Step-by-step explanation:

Implementing the ethical principle of veracity, which encourages truthfulness and integrity, the appropriate action for the new nurse to take would be to inform the charge nurse about the incorrect dosage given by the preceptor and document the incident. Veracity is about maintaining honesty in professional practice and upholding the trust patients place in healthcare providers. In this situation, reporting the error aligns with the principle of nonmaleficence, which mandates that no harm should be done to patients. While the act of reporting may create discomfort for the preceptor, it is necessary to prevent harm to patients and ensure that such errors do not recur.

This action reflects a commitment to patient safety and the ethical standards within the nursing profession. Taking this course also respects ethical duties to act when patient welfare is at stake, even if the patient was not immediately harmed, therefore protecting the patient's well-being proactively. Also, it's important to maintain the integrity of the healthcare system and uphold professional standards, which documenting and reporting such incidents helps to achieve.