Whose point of view offers a unique voice in the resolution of ethical dilemmas?

• A. A doctor's
• B. A nurse's
• C. A patient's
• D. An administrator's

Answer: (B)

The nurse’s perspective provides a unique voice in resolving ethical dilemmas because they are closest to the patient through ongoing, daily care. This proximity lets them observe how decisions affect comfort, independence, and quality of life in real time, and to articulate the patient’s values and preferences when the patient cannot fully communicate them. Nurses often act as advocates, ensuring that the patient’s wishes, dignity, and rights are heard by the rest of the care team, even when there are competing pressures from family, physicians, or administrative policies. They also bring practical insight about feasibility and safety, identifying which options are realistically workable in the patient’s daily life while balancing autonomy with beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. While doctors contribute medical expertise, patients express personal values, and administrators focus on policy and resources, the nurse’s continuous bedside presence uniquely grounds ethical decisions in the lived experience of care.