ABSTRACT

This comprehensive new textbook covers core ethical and legal content for pre-registration nursing students. It provides readers with a sound understanding of the interrelationships between the NMC's code of conduct, standards and competencies, ethics and relevant sections of the English legal system.

The only truly integrated text in the field, it opens with overviews of law and nursing, and ethical theories and nursing. It goes on to explore key areas of contention – such as negligence, confidentiality and consent – from legal and ethical perspectives, mapping the discussion onto the NMC code of conduct. The chapters include objectives, patient-focused case scenarios, key points, activities, questions, areas for reflection, further reading and a summary. Case law and statutes and ethical theories are presented where appropriate.

Written by an experienced nurse-lecturer with a law and ethics teaching background, Law, Ethics and Professional Issues for Nursing is essential reading for all pre-registration nursing students, as well as students of other healthcare professions.

chapter 1|13 pages

Introduction

Value to nursing students

chapter 3|13 pages

Nurses and the law

chapter 4|33 pages

Introduction to the English legal system

chapter 5|18 pages

Consent

Legal, ethical and professional issues

chapter 6|19 pages

Confidentiality

Legal, ethical and professional dimensions

chapter 7|31 pages

Negligence in healthcare

chapter 8|17 pages

Ethics in nursing

The case for ethics

chapter 9|8 pages

The importance of ethical practice

chapter 10|10 pages

Ethical theories part I

Principlism

chapter 11|21 pages

Ethical theories part II

Deontology, teleology and caring ethics

chapter 12|18 pages

Record keeping

chapter 13|32 pages

Caring for older people

chapter 14|34 pages

Child protection

Legal, ethical and professional issues

chapter 15|15 pages

Mental health law

(Written by Herman H. Wheeler and Christopher Waggstaff)