This subject explores the legal and ethical decision making that is used in nursing. The development of both legal and ethical reasoning is explored. Application of these types of reasoning is demonstrated using clinical examples. Legal thinking: law, general; law as a form of social control; Australian legal system, Statute law, common law, criminal law; torts; negligence, assault, consent (introductory); professional conduct (introductory); Nursing Act 1992 (Qld); ethics (introduction); principles of ethical reasoning; poisons legislation; possession and administration of drugs and legal reasoning (introduction). Ethical thinking: principles of ethics (autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, veracity and justice); ethical theories; teleological, deontological, feminist and virtue; codification of ethics; ICN 1973 and ANCI 1993; historical development of ethics in relation to social change and history of philosophy as it relates to nursing.