An introduction to ethical theory in nursing practice

Nurses must account for the ethical standards of their practice if called to do so by their professional regulatory body, therefore ethics is a part of daily nursing practice. Ethics is about making a personal judgement, meaning ethical standards are usually broad; however, this can make them appear unclear or intimidating. Therefore, it is important that nurses and nursing students understand how the topic of ethics manifests in ethical theory, the degree to which ethical theory can inform their practice, and its limitations. This article describes the perspectives and drawbacks of the main ethical theories, discusses how philosophers scrutinise ethical decisions, and considers the use of an ethical framework in healthcare decision-making. The author uses a scenario depicting an ethical dilemma in nursing practice to illustrate the points discussed. The author concludes that, whatever the limits of ethical theory as a definitive guide to nursing practice, reflection on ethical theories can help nurses to critically balance workplace demands for efficiency with the need to be compassionate and caring towards patients.