Ethical principles of community health nursing

1. ETHICAL PRINCIPLES OF
COMMUNITY HEALTH PRACTICE
Mr.Bhushan A.Thombare
Lecturer
MVPS’ INE Adgaon

2. Ethics
 Ethics is a system of moral principles and
rules of conduct recognized in respect to a
particular class of human actions or to a
particular group of people.

3. Principle of Autonomy
 Autonomy refers to freedom of action, as chosen
by individual person who are autonomers and
are capable of choosing and acting on plans they
themselves have decided about it .
 Application in community :- The provision of
informed consent ,freedom of choice including
treatment refusal, Client should be given a
choice in treatment plan

4. Principle of Beneficence
 Prevent or avoid doing harm during community
practices.
 It includes the idea that beneficence is a duty to
help others by providing health care services to
community people.
 Application in community:- To measures the
benefits and costs of alternative approaches to
problem or to decide how to distribute health
programme funds.

5. Principle of Nonmaleficence
 State that a person should do not harm
 Health care providers often use the concept of a
detrimental benefit analysis when the issue of
nonmaleficence is raised.
 Application in community:-
 Non-maleficence requires that nurses avoid
causing harm to patients.

6. Principle of Justice
 The formal principle of justice claims that equals
should be treated equally and that those who
are unequal should be treated differently.
 Application in community:-
 Equitable Health care services to community people.

7. Principle of Accountability
 The application of this principle indicates
that how a community health nurses
morally provide health services so as to
provide maximize total net health of
population .

8. Principle of Confidentiality
 Health care professionals did not
follow rule of confidentiality ,clients
might not sought help when needed it.
 Example - The family planning
services


9. Principle of Advocacy
 Advocacy in the care of safety of
clients is concerned.
 The nurse must be alert to take
appropriate action regarding any
instance of incompetent.

10. General principles of Community Health Nursing
1. Community focused therefore essential to know define
community make map & establish effective relationship .
2. Based on needs & functions within total community health
programmes.
3. Health education ,guidance supervision are integral part of
community health nursing .
4. Health services should be realistic in terms of available
resources.
5. Health worker is responsible to the authorized health authority
&function with in policies ,goals &objectives set by the
agencies.
6. Community focus on individual health needs
7. Professional relationship etiquettes are essential
8. Community involvement is integral part

11. General principles of Community Health Nursing
9. Community health nursing services should be based on the needs
of patient and there should be proper continuity of services to
patient .
10. Community participation in family and individual participation
11. Continuous health services.
12. Well developed system of records and reports is needed.
13. Periodic /continues appraisal of Health care services.
14. Health services should be available accessible to all without any
discrimination .
15. Health worker must maintain professional dignity and must
never except any gift &bribe.