What fundamental principle must the nurse first observe when confronted with an ethical decision?

• A. Autonomy
• B. Beneficence
• C. Respect for people
• D. Nonmaleficence

Answer: (C)

Treating people with inherent dignity and recognizing their rights is the starting point for ethical nursing decisions. This principle, often called respect for persons, means listening to patients, honoring their values and preferences, and including them in decisions about their care. When you approach a dilemma, honoring the patient as an autonomous being sets the foundation for all other duties—autonomy is expressed through respect for the person. Beneficence and nonmaleficence guide how you act to help and to avoid harm, but those duties must operate within the frame of respecting the patient’s rights and dignity. Justice concerns fairness, which matters too, but the immediate, first-step orientation in direct care is to treat the patient with respect for their person.