Ethics and Law in the Nursing Profession

About this course

Course DescriptionThis course provides a comprehensive exploration of the ethical and legal foundations that govern professional nursing practice in contemporary healthcare settings. It is designed to equip nursing students with the knowledge, skills, and professional attitudes necessary to deliver safe, ethical, patient-centered, and legally accountable care. Throughout the course, students will examine the principles of bioethics, professional standards, and legal responsibilities that influence clinical decision-making and nursing practice.Key topics include nursing codes of ethics, patient rights and legal protection, informed consent, confidentiality and privacy, medical records and documentation, negligence, malpractice, liability, professional accountability, risk management, cultural competence, ethical issues in diverse populations, and end-of-life care. Students will also explore ethical dilemmas commonly encountered in clinical practice and learn structured approaches to ethical decision-making while considering patients' values, cultural beliefs, legal requirements, and professional standards.The course emphasizes the importance of critical thinking, effective communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, and evidence-based practice in addressing ethical and legal challenges. Students will develop the ability to recognize ethical conflicts, analyze legal implications, advocate for patients' rights, maintain professional integrity, and comply with national regulations, institutional policies, and professional codes of conduct.By integrating ethical principles with legal knowledge, this course prepares future nurses to provide compassionate, culturally sensitive, and legally responsible care across a variety of healthcare environments. Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to apply ethical reasoning and legal principles confidently in clinical practice, promote patient safety and quality of care, and uphold the highest standards

Course objectives

• equip students with knowledge and skills for ethical nursing practice
• prepare students to handle ethical dilemmas in clinical settings
• promote understanding of legal responsibilities in nursing