A nurse is providing care for a surgeon on a medical-surgical unit. A nurse from another unit asks the nurse about the surgeon's medical diagnosis. The nurse responds that he is unable to provide the information requested. The nurse is displaying which of the following ethical principles?

A. Dry the skin: The priority nursing action immediately following birth is to ensure the newborn's warmth. Drying the newborn's skin helps prevent hypothermia, which is a significant risk for neonates. The nurse should dry the newborn's skin using a warm, dry towel to prevent heat loss through evaporation.
B. Administer vitamin K: Administering vitamin K is an important procedure shortly after birth to prevent hemorrhagic disease of the newborn. However, ensuring warmth by drying the skin takes precedence over administering vitamin K as the newborn's temperature regulation is crucial immediately after delivery.
C. Place an identification bracelet: Placing an identification bracelet on the newborn is essential for proper identification and security purposes, but it is not the priority immediately after birth. Ensuring the newborn's warmth and maintaining physiological stability take precedence.
D. Administer eye prophylaxis: Administering eye prophylaxis, typically in the form of erythromycin ointment or another antimicrobial agent, is important to prevent neonatal conjunctivitis due to exposure to maternal pathogens during delivery. However, this intervention can wait until after the newborn's warmth is ensured through drying the skin.

Answer: B. Non-maleficence

Rationale:

A. Utility:
The principle of utility refers to actions that maximize the overall good or benefit for the greatest number of people. In this scenario, the nurse’s refusal to share the surgeon's medical diagnosis does not directly relate to maximizing benefits, so this principle is not applicable.

B. Non-maleficence:
Non-maleficence is the ethical principle that involves the obligation to avoid causing harm to others. By not disclosing the surgeon's medical diagnosis, the nurse is protecting the surgeon's privacy and confidentiality, thereby preventing potential harm that could arise from sharing sensitive health information without consent.

C. Paternalism:
Paternalism refers to making decisions for others with the belief that it is in their best interest, often overriding their autonomy. The nurse's action of withholding information is not based on deciding what is best for the other nurse but rather on adhering to confidentiality principles.

D. Justice:
Justice in healthcare refers to fairness in the distribution of resources and treatment. The situation does not pertain to equitable treatment or allocation of resources, so this principle is not relevant in this context.