A nurse is reviewing ethical principles with a nursing colleague. Which of the following statements by the nursing colleague indicates an understanding of ethical principles?

Choice A reason: Justice is the ethical principle concerned with fairness, equity, and the impartial distribution of resources, risks, and benefits. In healthcare, justice guides decisions such as prioritizing care based on clinical need and ensuring equal access to services regardless of personal characteristics. It does not relate to client loyalty, which is not an ethical principle but rather a relational dynamic. Framing justice as loyalty misrepresents its core meaning and undermines its role in ethical decision-making, which centers on fairness and equitable treatment across individuals and populations. Choice B reason: Veracity is the ethical duty to tell the truth, primarily referring to the clinician’s obligation to be honest with clients, provide accurate information, and support informed decision-making. While clients may also be truthful, the ethical principle of veracity is anchored in professional conduct—ensuring transparency, avoiding deception, and maintaining trust through honest communication. Defining veracity as the client’s ability to provide truthful information shifts responsibility away from the clinician and distorts the principle’s intent, which is to uphold truthfulness in the delivery of care. Choice C reason: Nonmaleficence is the obligation to avoid causing harm—“do no harm.” This principle requires nurses to prevent injury, minimize risk, and avoid interventions where harms outweigh benefits. It underpins safe practice, careful monitoring, and risk mitigation, including avoiding unnecessary procedures, preventing medication errors, and recognizing when withholding or withdrawing interventions is ethically appropriate. It is correctly stated here as a core nursing obligation, aligning with the foundational ethical commitment to protect clients from harm in all aspects of care. Choice D reason: Beneficence is the duty to promote the well-being of clients by acting in their best interests, supporting positive outcomes, and balancing benefits against risks. It does not mean causing an “intentional outcome,” which implies a focus on intent rather than the ethical quality of the outcome. Ethical beneficence emphasizes compassionate, evidence-based actions that enhance health and quality of life, while avoiding paternalism and ensuring respect for autonomy. The phrasing here is misleading because beneficence is about promoting good, not merely producing outcomes through intention without regard to benefit, risk, or consent.