LWS101 Chap.2 Bioethical Principles and the Decision-Making Framework
Bioethical Principles and the Decision-Making Framework
The four principles
Respect for autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence and justice are the principles the unit asks you to define, cite and apply under heading 2.1. Most scenarios turn on a clash between two of them, and naming that clash is what lifts an answer.
The framework that organises everything
The five steps of Identify, Evaluate, Action, Implementation and Assess outcomes structure every tutorial answer, the problem-solving exercise and both exam questions, so mastering the template early pays off in every later topic.
How the marks are distributed
The problem-solving exercise rubric spreads 40 marks across five criteria and gives the largest shares, twelve marks each, to applying ethical and professional principles and to applying the law.
That weighting explains why this guide keeps returning to application: a correct quotation earns little until it is tied to a fact in the scenario and turned into something the nurse should do.
What this chapter covers
- 01
Respect for Autonomy
- 02
Beneficence and Nonmaleficence
- 03
Justice
- 04
The Five-Step Framework
- 05
Identify, Extract, Apply
- 06
The Assignment Rubric
Worked example · free
Placing sentences under the right heading
- 1Beneficence is a bioethical principle, so it belongs under 2.1 Ethical principles.
- 1An ICN element belongs under 2.2 Code of Ethics.
- 1Negligence is a legal conclusion, so it belongs under 2.3 Law.
- 1Documenting the conversation is a step taken to carry out the decision, so it belongs under 4 Implementation.
Key terms
- Respect for Autonomy
- The principle that a capable person's own informed choices about their care should be honoured.
- Beneficence
- The principle of acting for the benefit of the patient and promoting their wellbeing.
- Nonmaleficence
- The principle of avoiding harm, or harm that outweighs the benefit of an intervention.
- Justice
- The principle of treating people fairly and sharing health resources equitably.
- Options for Action
- The framework heading where the possible courses of action are compared and a final decision is reached.
- Assess Outcomes
- The final framework heading, a brief statement of what should happen after the decision has been carried out.
- Code Element
- A numbered statement in the ICN Code of Ethics, such as element 1.4, that an answer cites and then applies to the facts.
Bioethical Principles and the Decision-Making Framework FAQ
How do I apply a bioethical principle rather than just define it?
Give a one-sentence definition with a citation, then explain why the principle matters on these particular facts and what it suggests the nurse should do. The checklist asks you to apply each principle in your own voice, and better answers acknowledge the competing principle, such as autonomy against beneficence when a patient refuses care.
Do I need an introduction and conclusion in a framework answer?
No. The assignment FAQ says the task is problem based, not an essay, so the framework headings replace an introduction and conclusion. Your options for action and implementation steps already conclude the answer, and writing an introduction only spends words that the application criteria would reward more.
How many marks does each part of the assignment carry?
The rubric awards 4 marks for using the framework, 12 for identifying and applying ethical and professional principles, 12 for legal principles, 6 for supporting the final decision and 6 for expression, citation and referencing, a total of 40 marks for the 40% task.
How long should each framework heading be?
There is no set length, but the word limit for the assignment and the time limit in the exam both reward economy. Keep the issue and parties short, give the Evaluate headings the most space because that is where the large criteria sit, and write implementation and outcomes as brief, concrete steps rather than paragraphs.
Exam move
Print the framework template and fill it in for every tutorial question, even in note form. After each tutorial, mark which heading lost the most detail and fix it first next week. Make a four-row card for the principles with one sentence each, then practise writing a clash sentence for each scenario, for example autonomy against beneficence.
Before submitting the assignment, read your draft once against each rubric criterion and once against the checklist. Time yourself on one full framework answer each week from Week 6, aiming to finish every heading rather than perfect the first two.
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