Ethical practice in nursing: working the in‐betweens

Abstract

Analysis of the experiences and concerns of the nurses offered new understanding of ethics in nursing and direction for the development of ethical theory pertinent to nursing practice.

Moral Distress: Tensions as Springboards for Action

“…We would add that they are reflective of a political economy that is based on neo-liberal values that underpin shifts to more business focused and efficiency models of health care. Repeatedly we have seen in our own work how challenges to ethical nursing practice and increased moral distress are shaped by a neo-liberal socio-political contexts (Doane et al 2009;Doane and Varcoe 2007;Rodney and Varcoe 2001;Storch et al 2002Storch et al , 2009Varcoe et al 2003Varcoe et al , 2004. Different approaches to, and rates of health care reform, a global phenomenon with varied features internationally, have led to different rates of liberalization.…”

Empirical Research on Moral Distress: Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities

“…Interestingly, many of these studies did not start out to study moral distress, but the findings were so strongly descriptive of the phenomenon that they helped delineate the contours of the concept (see for example Pike 1991;Gordon and Hamric 2006;Harrowing and Mill 2010). One Canadian group with a research focus on ethical practice and the ability of nurses to practice with moral agency highlighted the difficulties nurses experience in attempting to enact ethical practice (see Rodney et al 2002;Varcoe et al 2004). Data from these various studies helped illuminate the experience of moral distress, including symptoms and sequelae seen in responses to the experience.…”

Caring About Care in the Hospital Arena and Nurses’ Voices in Hospital Ethics Committees: Three Decades of Experiences

“…In an ethnographic study of nurses practicing on two acute medical units, Rodney explored the situational constraints that made it difficult for nurses to uphold their professional standards. Varcoe et al (2004) support their findings of the serious structural and interpersonal constraints experienced, for example, excessive workloads for nurses, the absence of interdisciplinary team rounds, conflicts between team members inside and outside nursing and conflicts with patients and family members. Rodney (1997) explains that the inability of nurses to arrange space to talk with patients constrains their ability to truly focus and be attentive to the authentic needs of the patients and families.…”