Nokea
A charge nurse is working on a postpartum unit and discovers that one of the patients did not receive AM care during her shift assessment. The charge nurse questions the nurse assigned to provide care and finds out that the nurse thought “the patient should just do it by herself because she will have to do this at home.” On further questioning of the nurse, it is determined that the rest of her assigned patients were provided AM care. The assigned nurse has violated which ethical principle?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Justice in healthcare ethics refers to the fair and equal distribution of resources, care, and treatment. In this scenario, the nurse's decision to not provide AM care to the specific patient, while providing care to other patients, violates the principle of justice. It is unfair and unjust to selectively provide care based on personal assumptions rather than patients' needs. All patients should be treated equally and receive appropriate care regardless of individual beliefs or assumptions.