Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Exam

What principle ensures ethical consideration during treatment to avoid harm?

1. Justice

2. Beneficence

3. Nonmaleficence

4. Autonomy

The correct answer is: Nonmaleficence

The principle that ensures ethical consideration during treatment to avoid harm is nonmaleficence. This principle emphasizes the obligation of healthcare providers to not inflict harm on patients. In the context of psychiatric-mental health nursing, nonmaleficence involves carefully considering treatment options and potential side effects, ensuring that interventions do not exacerbate a patient's condition or cause unnecessary suffering. By adhering to this principle, mental health providers are called to evaluate risks versus benefits in any treatment plan, prioritizing the patient’s safety and well-being. The focus on nonmaleficence guides practitioners in their duty to avoid actions or treatments that could lead to harm, whether physical, emotional, or psychological. Other principles, while important in ethical decision-making, do not specifically emphasize the avoidance of harm. Justice pertains to fairness and equality in treatment distribution, beneficence involves actions that promote the best interests of patients, and autonomy highlights the patient's right to make informed decisions about their care. While these are valuable ethical considerations, nonmaleficence explicitly addresses the necessity to prevent harm, distinguishing it in the context of treatment ethics.