This text sets out to explore why nurses should study ethics, how they can identify moral issues, and how they should approach moral problems faced in nursing practice. Fundamentally, it is concerned with moral problems arising from attempts to care for competent clients.

`The book takes an important step forward in bringing to the nursing profession issues and debates fundamental to those working in health care and adhering to a code of professional conduct.' - Veronica Bishop, Nursing Times This book sets out to explore why nurses should study ethics, how they can identify moral issues, and how they should approach moral problems faced in nursing practice. Fundamentally, it is concerned with moral problems arising from attempts to care for competent clients. It gives an overview, that is both comprehensive and accessible, of the principle-based approach to bioethics as applied to nursing. The differing merits and shortcomings of the principle-based approach and the care-based approach to nursing ethics are examined. Throughout the book, illustrative examples ensure the theory has practical relevance for everyday nursing situations. The relationship between ethics and the UKCC Code of Professional Conduct is also explored.

Preliminary Matters - A Principle-based Approach - The Level-three Principles - Conflicts between Principles - A Challenge to the Principles - The Super-rerogatory Nurse