Nursing as ethical and moral practice: theoretical foundations Enfermería como práctica ética y moral: fundamentos teóricos

Abstract

Care in the nursing profession is based on fundamental ethical principles, which aim to promote the patient’s overall health, encompassing both physical and emotional well-being. Nursing professionals must act in an ethical, reflective and autonomous manner, guided by values that include human dignity, autonomy, beneficence and justice. Throughout their professional practice, nurses face ethical dilemmas due to the complexity of the health context and technological advances, which requires a deep knowledge of professional ethics to guide their decisions and ensure adequate care. Nursing ethics is based on several theories, such as deontological, utilitarian and virtue, which address the duty to care, the common good and the development of virtuous attitudes in the professional. In addition, codes of ethics, such as that of the International Council of Nursing, emphasize the importance of promoting health, preventing disease and respecting the human and cultural rights of patients. The integration of these ethical principles in daily practice, together with constant theoretical and technical updating, is essential to ensure quality, respectful and humanized care. The challenge for the profession lies in maintaining these standards in the face of organizational and structural barriers that may compromise the quality of care provided.