Public Health Nursing Practice Exam

Which behavior exemplifies the ethical principle of nonmaleficence in nursing practice?

1. Providing care that avoids harm to clients

2. Sharing all medical information with family members

3. Respecting a protocol regardless of client’s wishes

4. Ensuring all treatments are effective

The correct answer is: Providing care that avoids harm to clients

The behavior that exemplifies the ethical principle of nonmaleficence in nursing practice is providing care that avoids harm to clients. Nonmaleficence is the ethical obligation to not inflict harm intentionally. This principle emphasizes the importance of maintaining the safety and well-being of clients in all aspects of care. In practice, this means that nurses must assess potential risks involved in any intervention or treatment and implement measures to prevent harm. By prioritizing actions that safeguard against negative outcomes, nurses uphold their commitment to protecting patients, which is a core tenet of nursing ethics. The other choices do not align with the principle of nonmaleficence as directly. Sharing medical information with family members could violate patient confidentiality unless consent is given, respecting a protocol regardless of a client’s wishes could lead to harm if the client’s needs are overlooked, and ensuring all treatments are effective does not inherently relate to the avoidance of harm but rather to the efficacy of interventions.