title: [Ethics, power and duty].
abstract: Nursing care is a humane action which bears with it an ethical dimension which is revealed by the focus of the care provided. Among the different options for action, a nurse will choose that which contributes to the care of a patient without harming that patient. The care choice made is the result of a conscientious, deliberate decision-making process which presupposes a recognition of what one plans to do, what one is capable of doing and what can accomplish. Freedom to choose which care option is applied imposes on a nurse the duty to act according to principles and duties which rule the profession; a nurse's power to act transforms to a power of the duty to provide treatment.
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gândara
mesh_terms: D004995:Ethics, Professional; D006801:Humans; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000592:standards*; D011209:Power, Psychological; D012941:Social Responsibility