In recent years, the negative findings of numerous high-profile reports have shaken the public's trust in health and social care services. Nurses, educators and policy-makers have been challenged to understand and agree on what needs to be done to prevent a continuation of the kind of unethical practices uncovered by these reports. Consequently, ethics is now an even more integral part of the professional nursing curriculum.This comprehensive and thought-provoking second edition of Ethics and Nursing Practice offers both an essential introduction to key aspects of nursing ethics, including the role of professional codes of conduct and challenges to be encountered in the 21st century, and an in-depth exploration of ethical issues in relation to specific patient groups, such as the unborn, those with mental health difficulties, and the dying. In addition, the book provides a stimulating discussion of ethics relating to public health issues, such as smoking and obesity, as well as the fundamental matter of ethics in nursing research. Illustrated by a wealth of case studies and written by authors from a range of academic and practice backgrounds, this fully updated new edition of Ethics and Nursing Practice is a must-read for students and practitioners alike.
