To comply with the ethic of nonmaleficence, what should a nurse do?

• A. Provide every possible treatment regardless of patient wishes
• B. Respect patient autonomy above all else
• C. Avoid causing harm to patients
• D. Delegate tasks only to licensed staff

Answer: (C)

Nonmaleficence means doing no harm. In nursing, this principle guides every action to minimize risk and prevent injury or suffering for patients. To uphold it, a nurse chooses safe, evidence-based interventions, carefully weighs risks and benefits before procedures, ensures informed consent, and acts quickly to stop or reverse any practice that could cause harm.

So the correct approach is to avoid causing harm to patients. While respecting a patient’s autonomy and ensuring safe delegation of tasks are essential parts of ethical practice, they do not alone define nonmaleficence—this principle centers on actions and decisions that prevent harm.