The relationship between sound moral principles and care is presented. Although
the ethic of care is relational, contextual and empathetic it also
draws upon existing knowledge to inform decision-making. Additional tools
such as the moral principles of integrity, veracity, fidelity, respect for selfworth,
beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy and courage are utilized in
conjunction with the ethic of care. In this manner ethical action occurs in
the context of nurturing the human being who is experiencing the problem
within the framework of all that is going on. Integrity is proposed as the
standard that guarantees all other values. Moral courage is portrayed as the
ability to adhere to the fundamental law of integrity, ethics and perseverance
even in the face of rejection or opposition. Client advocacy is deemed
to be closely associated with the practice of moral courage. Not only are
nurses encouraged to incorporate moral principles of high virtue into their
way of being, they are also directed to strive to see the inherent good in
every person, regardless of the circumstances. In this manner nurses are
ethically obligated to offer competent and compassionate care even in the
presence of less than desirable client behaviour. It is pointed out that this
edict may sometimes present itself as a profound ethical test. Narratives are
used to help illuminate the notions of morality in the context of a person’s
story and the case study at the end of the chapter is particularly challenging
when nurses are asked to care for a person who is accused of the brutal
murder of a child.
Keywords: Hope, Humility, Knowing, Patience, Traits, Presencing, Trust, Unconditional
Positive Regard, Warmth, Moral principles, Integrity, Veracity, Fidelity, Victim
blaming, Beneficence, Non-maleficence, Self-worth, Autonomy, Parentalism,
Paternalism