Keywords

ETHICS, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, COMPETENCE

 

Authors

  1. Turner, Martha H. Col., USAF NC, PhD, RN,BC, CNAA

Abstract

A comprehensive healthcare ethics program in a medical treatment facility develops ethical competence in staff members and creates a climate for ethical practice. This article describes a successful ethics program, provides examples of clinical and organizational ethics issues, outlines activities of an ethics committee, offers a sample outline of a program needs assessment, discusses educational foundations for committee members, and suggests resources to support program development.