Module: Ethics in Nursing

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Ethics in Nursing
Module Code	NUR1041 (ITS: NS308A)
Faculty	Nursing, PsyT & Comm Health	School	Science & Health
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module introduces students to analysis and reasoning in the philosophy and ethics tradition. The nature of nursing will be examined; as will key concepts which are said to underpin clinical nursing practice, and which also permeate the professional and academic literature.Various ethical theories and principles are discussed and applied to cases and issues relevant to nursing and health care. The notion of ethical problems, judgements and decisions will be analysed and explored from the perspective of three theories of ethics: deontology, utilitarianism and virtue theory. A broad framework for ethical decision making will be critically evaluated.

Learning Outcomes

1. Consider the nature of nursing and the ethical domain of clinical practice.
2. Apply key skills of philosophical analysis and ethical reasoning.
3. Identify ethical issues in nursing practice and health care.
4. Apply ethical theories and principles to specific cases from practice.
5. Weigh the relative strengths of different positions on ethical issues.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Ethical theories and principles applied to nursing cases and issues
Tutorial	4	Scheduled time for group work
Independent Study	97	Reading, study and preparation of group project and individual essay
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	20815	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Michelle Butler	Module Teacher	Kate Irving

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Essay	Students will choose a moral dilemma from their own clinical practice and complete a moral case deliberation on this issue.	100%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Philosophy and Ethics
Overview of what philosophy / ethics is and what it seek to do

Critical thinking
Developing and evaluating arguments

The nature of nursing
An examination of nursing as a discipline and practice in the 21st century health service

Ethical principles
Overview of the main principles and their application to nursing

The concept of care
An analysis of the concept of care in nursing and health care practice

Developing and ethical perspective
An examination of the moral domain of nursing practice and the ethical dimension of the nurse/patient relationship

Advocacy
Description and evaluation of different ethical perspectives

Ethical theories
Overview of the main theories and their applicaion to nursing

Personhood
Description and evaluation of different ethical perspectives

Informed consent
Description and evaluation of different ethical perspectives

Emotions and ethics
An overview of the relevance of emotions in ethical decision making

Indicative Reading List

Books:

P. Anne Scott,Shane M. Scott: 2024, Key Concepts and Issues in Nursing Ethics, Springer Nature, 283, 9783031541087
Dolores Dooley and Joan McCarthy: 2012, Nursing ethics: Irish cases and concerns, 2nd ed, Gill & Macmillan, Dublin, 9780717149865
Margaret A. Burkhardt, Alvita K. Nathaniel: 2008, Ethics & issues in contemporary nursing, Thomson Delmar Learning, Clifton Park, NY, 1418042749
Hugh Mercer Curtler: 2004, Ethical argument, Oxford University Press, New York, 0195173163
Elsie L. Bandman, Bertram Bandman: 2002, Nursing ethics through the life span, 4th ed, Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, N.J., 0838569765
Tom L. Beauchamp, James F. Childress,: 2013, Principles of Biomedical Ethics, 7th ed, 978-0-19-992458-5
Mary Donnelly: 2002, Consent: Bridging the Gap Between Doctor and Patient, Cork University Press, Cork, 1859182755
R. G. Frey (Editor), Christopher Heath Wellman (Editor): 2005, A Companion To Applied Ethics, Blackwell, Oxford, 1405133457
A. P. Martinich: 2005, Philosophical Writing, 3rd ed, Malden, Mass, Blackwell, 1405131675
Peter Singer, Helga Kuhse (Editor): 2006, Bioethics: An Anthology, 2nd ed, Blackwell, Oxford, 9781405129480
Lewis Vaughn: 2006, Writing philosophy, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 0195179560

Articles:
None

Other Resources

1: DVD, 2001, Wit, United States, HBO
419489: 1, DVD, 2004, The doctor, London
419490: 1, DVD, 2002, One flew over the cuckoo's nest, London