Nurses, Ethics, and Times of Disaster

Nurses and other health care providers are acutely aware that there are ethical conflicts inherent to health care. These conflicts become even more evident during times of disaster. The principles of justice and utility are paramount during such situations. This causes conflict with the autonomy that is normally prevalent in our current health care environment. How principles are used to guide nurses and other health care providers is important in ethical decision making. Ethical burdens, such as scarce resources, abound during disasters. Nurses need to be at the forefront of planning and preparation for such events. Understanding bioethics during times of disaster will help nurses be better prepared to deal with related questions and problems.