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Ethics in nursing
Inr. .I ,Vur\ Srud.. kol 22, No. 4, pp. 341-345. Pergomon Presc Ltd. Printed in Great Brirain
1985
Book Reviews NURSING
ETHICS:
RECENT
RESOURCES
A number of books presenting contemporary views on nursing ethics have appeared in the past few years. The field of nursing ethics applies ethical theories and principles to role relationships in nursing and clinical decision-making within those relationships. Five books will be reviewed identifying their basic content, unique features, and the audience recommendations of the reviewer. All of the books are based primarily on nursing as it is practiced in the United States, which may present difficulties for an international readership. Curtin and Flaherty’s book does include consideration of nursing in Canada, which gives it a broader scope. This reviewer looks forward to the development of nursing ethics from a variety of societal and cultural views so that we may begin to identify universal characteristics of nursing ethics. Ethics in Nursing. Martin Benjamin and Joy Curtis. Oxford University Press, New York (1981). Content The book includes discussion of ethical dilemmas and the use of ethical theories and principles to resolve them; and the ethical aspects of role relationships between nurses and clients, nurses, physicians, institutions and society. Case studies introduce typical dilemmas in these role relationships and ethical reasoning is applied to their resolution. The appendix includes Codes, additional case studies without study questions or discussion, and a bibliography for further reading. Unique features The presentation of ethical theories and principles is particularly clear and there is a short section on the possible conflicts between ethics, law and religion that may arise. The discussion of this potential conflict is particularly necessary since ethics in Western pluralistic societies is often based in secular philosophy which has historical and practical connections with law and religion but may nevertheless be in conflict with one or both at times. Recommendations The clarity and focused scope of this book make it particularly good for students of nursing and experienced nurses with little background in formal ethics who will be reading it on their own without the benefit of a class or seminar. It is a good beginning text to prepare them for more in-depth discussions in other sources.
1985
Book Reviews NURSING
ETHICS:
RECENT
RESOURCES
A number of books presenting contemporary views on nursing ethics have appeared in the past few years. The field of nursing ethics applies ethical theories and principles to role relationships in nursing and clinical decision-making within those relationships. Five books will be reviewed identifying their basic content, unique features, and the audience recommendations of the reviewer. All of the books are based primarily on nursing as it is practiced in the United States, which may present difficulties for an international readership. Curtin and Flaherty’s book does include consideration of nursing in Canada, which gives it a broader scope. This reviewer looks forward to the development of nursing ethics from a variety of societal and cultural views so that we may begin to identify universal characteristics of nursing ethics. Ethics in Nursing. Martin Benjamin and Joy Curtis. Oxford University Press, New York (1981). Content The book includes discussion of ethical dilemmas and the use of ethical theories and principles to resolve them; and the ethical aspects of role relationships between nurses and clients, nurses, physicians, institutions and society. Case studies introduce typical dilemmas in these role relationships and ethical reasoning is applied to their resolution. The appendix includes Codes, additional case studies without study questions or discussion, and a bibliography for further reading. Unique features The presentation of ethical theories and principles is particularly clear and there is a short section on the possible conflicts between ethics, law and religion that may arise. The discussion of this potential conflict is particularly necessary since ethics in Western pluralistic societies is often based in secular philosophy which has historical and practical connections with law and religion but may nevertheless be in conflict with one or both at times. Recommendations The clarity and focused scope of this book make it particularly good for students of nursing and experienced nurses with little background in formal ethics who will be reading it on their own without the benefit of a class or seminar. It is a good beginning text to prepare them for more in-depth discussions in other sources.