Educational opportunities from the Center for Perioperative Education

Though often difficult, ethical decision making is necessary when caring for surgical patients. Perioperative nurses have to recognize ethical dilemmas and be prepared to take action based on the ethical code outlined in the American Nurses Association's (ANA's) Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. In this third of a nine-part series that will help perioperative nurses relate the ANA code to their own area of practice, the author looks at the fourth provision statement, which addresses nurses' accountability and responsibility. AORN J 75 (June 2002) 1094-1099.     

Ethics in perioperative practice--advancing the profession

Though often difficult, ethical decision making is necessary when caring for surgical patients. Perioperative nurses have to recognize ethical dilemmas and should be prepared to take action based on the ethical code outlined in the American Nurses Association's (ANA's) Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. In this seventh of a nine-part series that is designed to help perioperative nurses relate the ANA code to their own area of practice, the author looks at the seventh statement, which emphasizes commitment to the profession. AORN J 76 (Oct 2002) 654-656.     

Ethics in perioperative practice--promoting health,welfare, and safety

Though often difficult, ethical decision making is necessary when caring for surgical patients. Perioperative nurses have to recognize ethical dilemmas and should be prepared to take action based on the ethical code outlined in the American Nurses Association's (ANA's) Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. In this eighth of a nine-part series that is designed to help perioperative nurses relate the ANA code to their own area of practice, the author looks at the eighth statement, which emphasizes nurses' responsibility to promote the health, welfare, and safety of all people. AORN J 76 (Nov 2002) 866-870.     

Ethics in perioperative practice--values,integrity, and social policy

Though often difficult, ethical decision making is necessary when caring for surgical patients. Perioperative nurses have to recognize ethical dilemmas and should be prepared to take action based on the ethical code outlined in the American Nurses Association's (ANA's) Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. In this final article of a nine-part series that is designed to help perioperative nurses relate the ANA code to their own area of practice, the author looks at the ninth provision, which emphasizes the responsibility of professional nursing associations to maintain the value and integrity of the profession. AORN J 76 (Dec 2002) 1047-1053.     

Ethics in perioperative practice--duty to foster an ethical environment

Though often difficult, ethical decision making is necessary when caring for surgical patients. Perioperative nurses have to recognize ethical dilemmas and be prepared to take action based on the ethical code outlined in the American Nurses Association's (ANA's) Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. In this sixth of a nine-part series that will help perioperative nurses relate the ANA code to their own area of practice, the author looks at the sixth statement, which emphasizes the nurse's duty to promote a working environment that enhances quality patient care and fosters the values and behaviors that form the foundation of ethical practice. AORN J 76 (Sept 2002) 490-497.     

Ethics in perioperative practice--patient advocacy

Though often difficult, ethical decision making is necessary when caring for surgical patients. Perioperative nurses have to recognize ethical dilemmas and be prepared to take action based on the ethical code outlined in the American Nurses Association's (ANA's) Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. In this second of a nine-part series that will help perioperative nurses relate the ANA code to their own area of practice, the author looks at the third provision statement, which addresses nurses' position as patient advocates. AORN J 75 (May 2002) 941-949.     

Ethics in perioperative practice--duty to self

Though often difficult, ethical decision making is necessary when caring for surgical patients. Perioperative nurses have to recognize ethical dilemmas and be prepared to take action based on the ethical code outlined in the American Nurses Association's (ANA's) Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. In this fifth of a nine-part series that will help perioperative nurses relate the ANA code to their own area of practice, the author looks at the fifth statement, which emphasizes commitment to one's self.     

Ethics in perioperative practice--accountability and responsibility

Though often difficult, ethical decision making is necessary when caring for surgical patients. Perioperative nurses have to recognize ethical dilemmas and be prepared to take action based on the ethical code outlined in the American Nurses Association's (ANA's) Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. In this third of a nine-part series that will help perioperative nurses relate the ANA code to their own area of practice, the author looks at the fourth provision statement, which addresses nurses' accountability and responsibility.     

Ethics in perioperative practice--commitment to the patient

Though often difficult, ethical decision making is necessary when caring for surgical patients. Perioperative nurses have to recognize ethical dilemmas and be prepared to take action based on the ethical code outlined in the American Nurses Association's (ANA's) Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. In this fourth of a nine-part series that will help perioperative nurses relate the ANA code to their own area of practice, the author looks at the second statement, which emphasizes commitment to the patient. AORN J 76 (July 2002) 153-160.     

Nursing and genetics: applying the American Nurses Association's Code of Ethics.

A professional code of ethics is essential for behaviors to be reinforced in any discipline. The American Nurses Association (ANA) has established a code of ethics for nurses to use as a framework for making ethical decisions with all aspects of health care delivered to the public. With the explosion of genetic discoveries, nurses and clients are facing new ethical dilemmas. It is important for nurses to understand how to use the ANA Code of Ethics when faced with the many complexities of ethical issues involving genetics and health care. This article illustrates how the ANA Code of Ethics can be applied in nursing practice to establish professional behaviors related to ethical issues and genetics.     

Public Health Nursing,Ethics and Human Rights

Public health nursing has a code of ethics that guides practice. This includes the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Nurses, Principles of the Ethical Practice of Public Health, and the Scope and Standards of Public Health Nursing. Human rights and Rights‐based care in public health nursing practice are relatively new. They reflect human rights principles as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and applied to public health practice. As our health care system is restructured and there are new advances in technology and genetics, a focus on providing care that is ethical and respects human rights is needed. Public health nurses can be in the forefront of providing care that reflects an ethical base and a rights‐based approach to practice with populations.     

Ethics in critical care in nursing

The ANA Code for Nurses requires ethical behavior from all practitioners of nursing. As such, it serves to safeguard the public from unethical nurses. However, the code cannot and does not give direction in all situations nurses encounter in practice. Nurses require more assistance to meet the ethical requirements of professional practice. Careful exploration of moral principles and theories affords the nurse a broad background and some specific insights into morality and moral decision making. However, even this knowledge does not allow any nurse to put her ethical self "on automatic" while she appeals to one or another of these principles to support what she decides to do. No moral theory or principle is absolute. None can be used exclusively to resolve the many ethical questions nurses face. A nurse must use the process of reflective equilibrium to balance her own moral convictions and her background beliefs with accepted moral theories and principles, in order to reach sound moral judgements.     

Influence of empathy and professional values on ethical decision-making of emergency nurses: A cross sectional study

IntroductionEmergency nurses are likely to experience serious ethical dilemmas and conflicts because of the dangerous and unpredictable care situations. Nursing ethical decision-making ability is therefore a core competence. Empathy and professional values may be the important variables that influence ethical decision-making. However, for emergency nurses, there is a lack of empirical evidence to support presently. This study aimed to explore the influence of empathy and professional values on nursing ethical decision-making of emergency nurses.MethodsA convenience sample of 236 emergency nurses from 10 general hospitals in China were surveyed. Their ethical decision-making ability, empathy and professional values were measured using the Judgment About Nursing Decision scale, Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Professionals, and Nursing Professional Values Scale-Revised, respectively. Additionally, their sociodemographic data were collected. Univariate analysis, Pearson analysis, and multiple linear regression were performed.ResultsThe mean ethical decision-making score of emergency nurses was 295.06 ± 26.49, which was medium level. Their average ethical choice score was higher than that of ethical action (P < 0.001). The multiple linear regression results showed that professional values (Standardized coefficients (β) = 0.295, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.618–1.618), empathy (β = 0.210, 95% CI: 0.620–1.613), job title (β = 0.253, 95% CI: 0.357–2.800) and number of forms of in-service training on ethical decision-making (β = 0.243, 95% CI: 0.254–3.942) were the independent factors significantly influencing the ethical decision-making ability. The multivariate linear regression model had an F statistic of 32.153 (P < 0.001) and an R² = 0.588.ConclusionsStrengthening nurses’ empathy and professional values can help nurses make ethical decisions. More clinical experience and in-service training on ethical decision-making can help emergency nurses better handle ethical dilemmas and conflicts.     

Professional values and empowerment: a role for continuing education

A commitment to values is increasingly important for professional nurses. For practitioners of nursing, advances in knowledge and technology are raising complicated ethical questions that need a response. The guiding of ethical decision-making is a primary function of a code of ethics such as the Code for Nurses document (1978). Among practitioners of nursing, values identified most frequently are reflected in the first six statements that deal with professional issues. Values inherent in the last five statements, which focus on social issues, such as professional empowerment, are not readily identified. Internalization of the social issue values is critical for the future of nursing.     

Home care and hospice ethics: using the code for nurses as a guide

In today's rapidly changing healthcare environment, home care and hospice nurses face complex ethical dilemmas. Many result from situations with two opposing, but equally reasonable, solutions. Understanding how and why ethical dilemmas arise helps nurses recognize the potential for an ethical dilemma and formulate justifiable solutions. This article, the first of a new ethics column in Home Healthcare Nurse, sets the foundation for the nurse's understanding of these dilemmas by applying the American Nurses Association's Code for Nurses with Interpretive Statements to real case studies.     

Nurses' responses to ethical dilemmas in nursing practice: meta-analysis

Title. Nurses’ responses to ethical dilemmas in nursing practice: meta‐analysis. Aim. This paper is a report of a study to explore nurses’ responses to ethical dilemmas in daily nursing practice. Background. Concern about nurses’ ethical competence is growing. Most nurses perceived that there were barriers in their work environment to ethical practice, compromising their ability to perform ethically. Since most research focuses on contextual barriers to nurses’ ethical practice, little is known about how nurses involve themselves in ethical decision‐making and action in daily care. Method. A meta‐analysis of nurses’ ethical behaviour was conducted using data from nine studies in four countries (n = 1592 registered nurses). In all studies, the Ethical Behaviour Test was used to measure nurses’ ethical responses, based on an adapted version of Kohlberg’s theory of moral development. Data were analysed using random‐intercept regression analysis. Findings. All groups, except the expert group, displayed a uniform pattern of conventional ethical reasoning and practice. When nurses were faced with ethical dilemmas, they tended to use conventions as their predominant decision‐guiding criteria rather than patients’ personal needs and well‐being. Conclusion. Conformist practice (following conventions rather than pursuing good for the patient) constitutes a major barrier for nurses to take the appropriate ethical actions, as creativity and critical reflection are absent. There is an urgent need to find ways to promote nurses’ ethical development from conventional to postconventional ethical practice. More research is needed to strengthen existing empirical evidence.