Moral principles are a set of ethical values that are used to guide decision
making in practice. In Chapter Two an important connection between the ethic of care,
nursing practice and key moral principles is made evident. Integrity consists of
integrating honest ways consistently into one’s everyday actions and is the moral
principle that guarantees all other values. Veracity, which is the duty to tell the truth,
and fidelity, which is about being loyal, are both related to integrity. Nurses are
expected to view all people as worthy of dignity. They are cautioned to avoid blaming
the victim because it holds people burdened by social conditions as accountable for
their own situations. Beneficence is the obligation to do what will benefit the client and
non-maleficence is the duty to prevent harm. However, sometimes medical
interventions with known associated risks are utilized prior to considering less harmful
options. Autonomy is having the freedom to make choices and nurses are expected to
do their best to ensure that client autonomy is honoured as much as possible. Nurses
are encouraged to be morally courageous which consists of performing the ethical right
action even in the face of opposition. The seven key attributes of a morally courageous
nurse are identified. Although impediments to moral courage do exist, nurses are
inspired to develop strategies to overcome them. The Case in Point at the end of the
Chapter is particularly challenging. A nurse is expected to practice non-maleficence
while taking care of a client who is accused of a brutal crime.
Keywords: Autonomy, Advocacy, Beneficence, Cognitive behavioural therapy
(CBT), Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), Fidelity, Integrity, Moral principles,
Moral courage, Mental Health Act, Non-maleficence, Paternalism, Parentalism,
Respect for self-worth, Veracity.