Which principle should outweigh non-maleficence in nursing practice?

Beneficence is the principle that focuses on the act of doing good and promoting the well-being of patients. In nursing practice, benefiting the patient may sometimes necessitate actions that could cause minor harm for a greater good, such as administering a painful injection to prevent a much worse condition. This situation illustrates how beneficence can take precedence over non-maleficence, which is the principle of "do no harm."

In nursing, it’s critical to balance these ethical principles, and beneficence often comes to the forefront when patient welfare is at stake. For example, a nurse may decide to provide pain relief to a patient, knowing it might cause some temporary discomfort through the administration of medication, but ultimately leads to a significant relief from chronic pain.

Justice, autonomy, and fidelity are also important principles in nursing practice. Justice pertains to fairness and equitable treatment, autonomy respects the patient's right to make informed decisions about their care, and fidelity refers to the loyalty and promise to uphold commitments to the patient. However, in many clinical scenarios, the ethical obligation to promote good (beneficence) can surpass the obligation to avoid harm (non-maleficence), thereby guiding nurses in their decision-making and patient care.