With the opening of physical barriers and borders, European nurses have new opportunities to share knowledge and develop fresh insights by working and studying throughout Europe. This book aims to assist this process by discussion of key ethical issues faced by nurses in a number of European countries. In doing so, it is hoped that the diverse cultural barriers, as well as the physical ones, can be lifted through increasing awareness and understanding.

Why ethics for midwives? -- Existing ethical codes, guidelines, and value statements -- Privacy and confidentiality -- Informed consent/choice -- Who is the client? -- Multiple relationships -- Scope of practice and competence -- Working with other professionals -- Client non-compliance and termination of care -- Diversity, equity, and justice -- Addressing ethical concerns -- Ethical thinking, caring, and decision-making.

A multi-disciplinary introduction to the ethical dilemmas which commonly face midwives in clinical practice. A wide range of problems is explored by experienced practitioners and philosophers and clear guidance is offered on how different clinical and legal issues might be approached.

Short case studies, based on real stories from the health care arena, ensure that each chapter of this book is rooted in descriptions of nursing practise that are grounded, salient narratives of nursing care. The reader is assisted to explore the ethical dimension of nursing practice: what it is and how it can be portrayed, discussed, and analysed within a variety of practice and theoretical contexts. One of the unique contributions of this book is to consider nursing not only in the context of the individual nurse – patient relationship but also as a social good that is of necessity limited, due to the ultimate limits on the nursing and health care resource. This book will help the reader consider what good nursing looks like, both within the context of limitations on resources and under conditions of scarcity. Indeed, any discussion of ethical issues in nursing should be well grounded in a conceptualisation of nursing that nursing students and practising nursing can recognise, accept and engage with. Nursing, like medicine, social work and teaching has a clear moral aim – to do good. In the case of nursing to do good for the patient. However it is vital that in the pressurised, constrained health service of the 21st century, we help nurses explore what this might mean for nursing practice and what can reasonably be expected of the individual nurse in terms of good nursing care.

This popular title from the Fundamental Aspects of Nursing series has been revised and updated to reflect the advances in the field. Vital reading for all student nurses to help them develop an understanding of the myriad of dilemmas in professional practice and ensure they meet professional standards. This book will outline the implications and application of the relevant recent legislation that relates to nursing practice. Professionally, this book will look at the demands and requirements of nursing, as it moves to an all graduate profession, and the subsequent legal and ethical implications. It will also be helpful for qualified nurses as a refresher text & for those undertaking Overseas Nurses' Programmes. With the new Nursing and Midwifery Council's proposals, there is a greater emphasis on nurses' awareness and ability to use, and be assessed in, legal, ethical and professional issues in their clinical practice.

Understanding ethics and law in health care is an essential part of nurses' and midwives' professional standards. Ethics, Law and Health Care focuses on teaching applied ethics and law in a manner that illustrates the real world applications of these core components of the nursing and midwifery curriculum and practice. It equips readers with the ability to recognise and address legal and ethical issues that will arise in their professional practice. The book uses the four principles of biomedical ethics (autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence and justice) together with the use of both the Nursing and Midwifery Codes of Ethics and Codes of Professional Conduct, issued by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, as a central means through which to analyse and approach ethical and legal issues. Ethics, Law and Health Care is scaffolded to assist readers in understanding legal and ethical principles, to integrate them in the context of a particular issue within professional practice, and provide them with a decision-making framework to take action in a professional context by utilising the Codes as well as state and federal law. Aided by pedagogical features such as case studies, review questions, further reading and a glossary of common terms, this book is an essential resource for students, academics and practitioners. Key Features • Teaches applied ethics and law in a manner that illustrates the 'real world' applications of the core components of the nursing and midwifery curriculum and practice. • Scaffolded to assist readers in understanding legal and ethical principles, integrate them in the context of a particular issue or problem within professional practice, and provide them with a framework to take action in a professional context. • Full copies of the Codes of Ethics and Professional Conduct for Nurses and Midwives are provided as appendixes for ease of reference. • An online Tutorial Guide provides readers with examples of ethical and legal solutions to the end of chapter scenarios by utilising the decision-making framework.

The aim of this book is to examine some of the theoretical issues surrounding the Code of Professional Conduct and to explore some of its implications. Theories have been drawn from a wide range of disciplines, moral philosophy, ethics, psychology, sociology, education and nursing in order to widen the debate. Each chapter of the book examines one statement from the code and explores the concepts and problems that may relate to that statement. The breadth of debate is also influenced by the perceptions of the authors, which in many ways are very different: male and female, married and single, sociology and psychology, general nursing and psychiatry, Christian and undecided. However, what they have in common is that both are nurses and both are deeply concerned with the standards of care offered to the public and to the development of the professional.

Law for Nurses and Midwives continues to be the definitive health law text for nursing and midwifery students who are required to consider legal, professional and ethical considerations as part of their tertiary studies. The 9th edition includes the latest updates to case law and information on nursing and midwifery governance and professional practice standards, outlining a range of legal issues and responsibilities specific to both nursing and midwifery practice, including consent to treatment, confidentiality, professional negligence and professional ethics. Written by the most eminent experts in nursing and midwifery law in Australia, Patricia Staunton and Mary Chiarella, Law for Nurses and Midwives provides a comprehensive and accessible resource for nursing and midwifery students to understand the relevance of legal issues to the provision of safe and effective healthcare. NEW chapter: Chapter 9 The International Confederation of Midwives Code of ethics for midwives and the International Council of Nurses Code of ethics for nurses gives you the latest information on global standards for ethical practice Increased focus on midwives strengthens the text’s relevance to midwifery practice Updated chapter content reflects changes to Australian state and territory legislation as well as new case reports keeping you fully informed on issues such as: - nursing and midwifery professional practice standards; - detailed consideration of the legal issues pertinent to mental health; - consent to treatment, including the right to withhold consent and end-of-life planning; - the contract of employment, including workplace health and safety and workers compensation. An eBook included in all print purchases

Legal and ethical competence is a cornerstone of professional midwifery practice and an essential part of midwifery training. Law and Ethics for Midwifery is a unique and practical resource for student midwives. Written by an experienced midwifery lecturer, this text draws on a wide variety of real life case studies and focuses particularly on the core areas of accountability, autonomy and advocacy. Opening with two chapters providing overviews respectively of ethical theories and legislation, the book is then arranged thematically. These chapters have a common structure which includes case studies, relevant legislation, reflective activities and a summary, and they run across areas of concern from negligence through safeguarding to record-keeping. Grounded in midwifery practice, the text enables student midwives to consider and prepare for ethical and legal dilemmas they may face as midwives in clinical practice.

From the start of their nursing programme it is essential that nursing students understand the significance of ethics and how it will impact the decisions they make on a daily basis. This book explains ethical ideas, theories and concepts in simple to understand terms and focuses on day-to-day nursing situations that apply principles to practice. The book challenges the reader to consider their own values and where ethics fits into who they are and how they behave and carefully unlocks this fascinating and important subject. Key features A practical guide that explores how ethics applies to nursing and where the key theories fit in Each chapter contains real world case studies and scenarios with an emphasis on ethical decision making Activities throughout challenge the reader to reflect on their views and experiences and apply what they have learnt to their own practice Each chapter is linked to the latest NMC standards relating to ethical issues.