When a nurse collaborates with a provider to manage a cancer client's breakthrough pain, which ethical principle are they demonstrating?

The collaboration between a nurse and a provider to manage a cancer client's breakthrough pain exemplifies the principle of beneficence. This ethical principle is centered around the obligation to act in the best interest of the patient, promoting their well-being and alleviating suffering. In the context of managing breakthrough pain, the nurse and provider are actively working together to ensure that the client receives appropriate pain relief and supportive care, thereby enhancing the patient's quality of life.

Beneficence involves not only the provision of care but also the consideration of the patient’s needs, preferences, and circumstances. By collaborating, the healthcare professionals demonstrate their commitment to providing comprehensive care that prioritizes the patient's comfort and health outcomes. This partnership aligns with their shared responsibility to do good, embodying the very essence of beneficence in clinical practice.

In contrast, autonomy reflects a patient's right to make informed decisions about their care, justice pertains to fairness and equality in healthcare access and treatment, while nonmaleficence emphasizes the obligation to avoid harm. Although these principles play important roles in nursing and healthcare, the act of collaborating specifically for the purpose of pain management aligns most closely with beneficence.