Clinical ethical conflicts of nurses and physicians

Abstract

Much of the literature on clinical ethical conflict has been specific to a specialty area or a particular patient group, as well as to a single profession. This study identifies themes of hospital nurses' and physicians' clinical ethical conflicts that cut across the spectrum of clinical specialty areas, and compares the themes identified by nurses with those identified by physicians. We interviewed 34 clinical nurses, 10 nurse managers and 31 physicians working at four different Canadian hospitals as part of a larger study on clinical ethics committees and nurses' and physicians' use of these committees. We describe nine themes of clinical ethical conflict that were common to both hospital nurses and physicians, and three themes that were specific to physicians. Following this, we suggest reasons for differences in nurses' and physicians' ethical conflicts and discuss implications for practice and research.

Moral distress revisited: the viewpoints and responses of nurses

“…Gaudine et al () develop such arguments further when they argue that nurses experience ethical conflict and associated dilemmas with their employing organizations in four key areas, all of which impact on patient safety and quality care. These areas are (a) resources – both economic and human (encompassing a lack of time, a lack of staff, a lack of beds); (b) disagreement with organizational values, policies and rules; (c) conflict of interest (i.e.…”

Translation and psychometric properties of the “ethical conflict in nursing questionnaire: critical care version” in Iran

“…Nevertheless, many factors have an impact on the quality of health care such as their health and work ability (36). Recent trends in health care have produced the potential for high levels of ethical conflict, particularly for physicians and nurses, who are key participants in the provision of quality ethical care (4). Ethical conflicts ordinarily begin as moral disagreements about an issue, the perception of injustice in the process of dealing with the issue, or an emotional response to a condition (37).…”

“…As a result, nurses will understand emotional distress, which may lead to harmful outcomes for the nurse and the organization (1, 3, 4). Consequently, nurses will experience emotional distress, which may result in adverse outcomes for the nurse and the organization (1).…”

Nursing Interns’ Perception Regarding Patients’ Rights and Patients’ Advocacy

“…However, healthcare institutions activities focus on health conditions promotion, healthcare resources, the actual and potential needs of the clients and community in general [8][9] [10] .Advocating patient rights is not easily job for nurses in practice settings, the majority of nurses confront obstacles within their work environment that hinder advocacy of patient rights. Therefore, there are a high expectations that advocating patients can't be met when there is a need to protecting their rights, choices and welfare [11] [12] [7] [13]. [14][15] [16] Illustrated that patient's rights submitted under the umbrella of human rights to which patients are entitled while they are undergoing care at healthcare services.…”