Nonmaleficence is best described as which concept?

• A. beneficence
• B. autonomy
• C. ethics
• D. duty to do no harm

Answer: (D)

Nonmaleficence means the obligation to avoid causing harm to patients. In nursing practice this means you should not take actions that could injure or unduly risk a patient, and you should minimize harm when care has potential negative effects. It pairs with beneficence, which calls for actively promoting the patient’s good; in practice you weigh benefits against risks to choose the safest, most beneficial option. For example, selecting a safer medication when an effective alternative exists, adhering to precise techniques to prevent complications, and avoiding unnecessary procedures that could harm the patient. Autonomy concerns respecting a patient’s right to make their own decisions, and ethics is the broader field of moral principles guiding practice, but neither captures the specific imperative to "do no harm" as clearly as nonmaleficence.