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Theories Of Deontology In Nursing

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As a first year nursing student at Notre Dame University Fremantle, I understood that enrolling into a Bachelor Degree in Nursing at a Catholic University, it was a requirement to complete the three compulsory core units of Philosophy, Ethics and Theology. Personally and honestly, I had never really considered these disciplines much, if at all. Furthermore, in regards to Ethics I thought, as a mature age student, I had a general and basic understanding that to be an ethical person one had to identify when something was right, wrong, good or bad. However, upon reflection to the Ethics 100N unit I soon came to realised I truly had no idea of the different theories and theorists within Ethics or the depth of Ethics.
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In nursing, if we make decisions and can justify what we practise and it leads to a positive happy end, even if it is not the ideal answer, is considered an acceptable outcome. An example may be giving chemotherapy to a cancer patient, which is poisonous and extremely painful, however the final outcome is the pleasure or goodness of being well or cancer free. In comparison, applying theories of Deontology to nursing, in which we decide if something is moral if and only if it follows the. The categorical imperatives criteria of universality, humanity, autonomy and kingdom of ends are comprehensive, however it gives a clear description of what is required to give the best ethical absolutist decision. Deontology could be questionable within some medical practise as it is a very solid, not black or white, do not care about the consequences type of theory. Virtue Ethics based on character, can be used to decide if you are a good nurse and if you practise the way you care for people by reflecting on the good virtues and being

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