Definition: Utilitarianism is the philisophical view that an action itself is not right or wrong, but the end result of those actions consummates whether the actions were good or bad. This view encompasses application of actions that provide the best outcomes for the majority of people.
Application: An example of utilitarianism in nursing practice is triage during mass casualty disasters. These victims are categorized based on acuity and life expectancy rather than solely on acuity. These patients are categorized and attended to as follows: Immediate, meaning must be treated now or they will decline beyond resuscitation quickly, Delayed, which means these patients can be stabilized and wait a short amount of time for treatment, Minor, meaning
Application: An example of utilitarianism in nursing practice is triage during mass casualty disasters. These victims are categorized based on acuity and life expectancy rather than solely on acuity. These patients are categorized and attended to as follows: Immediate, meaning must be treated now or they will decline beyond resuscitation quickly, Delayed, which means these patients can be stabilized and wait a short amount of time for treatment, Minor, meaning