Question

A nurse administers the incorrect medication to a patient and does not complete an incident report since the patient did not have any effects from that medication. Which ethical principle does the nurse violate?

1) autonomy
2) confidentiality
3) veracity
4) fidelity

Answer 1

The nurse violated the principle of veracity by not reporting the incorrect medication administration, as it compromises honesty and patient safety in the healthcare setting.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse who administers the incorrect medication to a patient and fails to report the incident is violating the ethical principle of veracity. Veracity is the obligation to tell the truth and be honest with patients, which includes acknowledging errors.

In this case, by not completing an incident report, the nurse is not providing a truthful account of the events that occurred, potentially jeopardizing patient safety and undermining the trust required in the healthcare provider-patient relationship. Filing a report would also help the healthcare institution to prevent future medication errors and improve patient care.