This comprehensive new textbook covers core ethical and legal content for pre-registration nursing students. It provides readers with a sound understanding of the interrelationships between the NMC's code of conduct, standards and competencies, ethics and relevant sections of the English legal system.

The only truly integrated text in the field, it opens with overviews of law and nursing, and ethical theories and nursing. It goes on to explore key areas of contention such as negligence, confidentiality and consent from legal and ethical perspectives, mapping the discussion onto the NMC code of conduct. The chapters include objectives, patient-focused case scenarios, key points, activities, questions, areas for reflection, further reading and a summary. Case law and statutes and ethical theories are presented where appropriate.

Written by an experienced nurse-lecturer with a law and ethics teaching background, Law, Ethics and Professional Issues for Nursing is essential reading for all pre-registration nursing students, as well as students of other healthcare professions.

This comprehensive new textbook covers core ethical and legal content for pre-registration nursing students. It provides readers with a sound understanding of the interrelationships between the NMC's code of conduct, standards and competencies, ethics and relevant sections of the English legal system.

The only truly integrated text in the field, it opens with overviews of law and nursing, and ethical theories and nursing. It goes on to explore key areas of contention – such as negligence, confidentiality and consent – from legal and ethical perspectives, mapping the discussion onto the NMC code of conduct. The chapters include objectives, patient-focused case scenarios, key points, activities, questions, areas for reflection, further reading and a summary. Case law and statutes and ethical theories are presented where appropriate.

Written by an experienced nurse-lecturer with a law and ethics teaching background, Law, Ethics and Professional Issues for Nursing is essential reading for all pre-registration nursing students, as well as students of other healthcare professions.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction 2. Applying Professional Codes, Laws and Moral Principles 3. Nurses and the Law 4. Introduction to the English Legal System 5. Consent: Legal, Ethical and Professional Issues 6. Confidentiality: Legal, Ethical and Professional Dimensions 7. Negligence in Healthcare 8. Ethics in Nursing: the Case for Ethics 9. The Importance of Ethical Practice 10. Ethical Theories Part I: Principlism 11. Ethical Theories Part II: Deontology, Teleology and Caring Ethics 12. Record Keeping 13. Caring for Older People 14. Child Protection 15. Mental Health Law (Herman Wheeler and Christopher Waggstaff)