Empirical ethics in action: Lessons from two empirical studies in nursing ethics

Abstract

Despite the burgeoning of publications in nursing ethics, only more recently has empirical evidence on nursing ethics been published. How nursing ethics can be empirically studied as well as enriched by empirical data will be the focus of this paper. Two empirical studies will be briefly presented and their contribution to ethics discussed. The first one is a quantitative research project about nurses' ethical behavior in daily practice. Using an adapted version of Kohlberg's theory of moral development, this study tried to describe and explore nurses' responses to ethical dilemmas in daily nursing practice. The second study attempted to describe the specificity of residential palliative care. A qualitative approach was used to explore and describe the processes that take place on an inpatient palliative care unit, and the experiences of patients, relatives and palliative care team members. The analysis of the value of both research projects for ethics underlines the power of empirical understanding in the relationship between research and ethics. The need for integration of both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies is argued.

Ethical values in caring encounters on a geriatric ward from the next of kin's perspective: An interview study

“…The next of kin describe the nurse's behaviour in caring encounters with the elderly patient. This behaviour makes the ethical values visible 25 …”

Nurses’ attitudes towards artificial food or fluid administration in patients with dementia and in terminally ill patients: a review of the literature

“…This type of attitude may indicate that a conformist way of thinking exists among nurses. This means that a nurse’s ethical reasoning and practice is based more on contextual or conventional factors than on critical reflection in view of a patient’s wellbeing 53 54…”

Students’ Perceptions Regarding the Third Year Nursing Ethics Module at Shifa College of Nursing, Islamabad, Pakistan

“…If the care is performed in a robotic manner then the potential power of healing is considerably lessened. However, if the patient is cared for with warmth and respected as a human being, then the result will be worth seeing (Dierckx de Casterlé et al 2004).…”

“…Therefore, efforts were made to include ethics teaching in the undergraduate nursing curriculum. (Dierckx de Casterlé et al 2004). It is ethics that teaches us to be considerate and show concern for the patient's well being.…”