Which ethical principle guides nurse researchers to protect participants from harm?

The ethical principle guiding nurse researchers to protect participants from harm is nonmaleficence. This principle emphasizes the obligation to not inflict harm intentionally and to prevent potential harm to participants during research. In the context of nursing research, nonmaleficence mandates that researchers carefully consider the risks associated with their studies and take necessary precautions to safeguard the well-being of all participants. This could involve comprehensive risk assessments, obtaining informed consent, and creating a safe environment for participants throughout the research process.

While other principles like beneficence, justice, and autonomy are also important in research ethics, they serve different roles. Beneficence focuses on promoting good and maximizing possible benefits, justice pertains to fairness in the distribution of the benefits and burdens of research, and autonomy respects the participants' right to make informed decisions about their involvement in research. Nonmaleficence directly addresses the need to protect participants from any potential harm, making it the most relevant principle for this specific context.