In ethical decision making, nurses are responsible for which groups?

• A. Only the patient
• B. Patients, families, communities, societies, populations, and organizations
• C. Only the healthcare team
• D. Only the patient's legal guardian

Answer: (B)

Nurses’ ethical decision making encompasses responsibilities to multiple stakeholders, not just the individual patient. This includes patients, families, communities, societies, populations, and organizations. The idea is that ethical practice combines honoring each patient’s autonomy and welfare with a broader duty to advocate for loved ones, contribute to community health, address social justice, and uphold the integrity and safety of the healthcare system. Codes of ethics and professional standards reflect this wide scope, guiding nurses to consider how decisions affect individuals and the broader context in which care occurs.

Focusing only on the patient, only on the healthcare team, or only on a legal guardian misses these broader obligations. By recognizing responsibilities to diverse groups and to the systems that shape care, nurses help ensure fair access, protect vulnerable populations, and promote the overall good in health care.