Science, Ethics, and Nursing

Nurses and Care of Women Seeking Abortions, 1971 to 2011

“…Seventeen articles categorized under the theme legal and ethical aspects of abortion care or 29% were consistent with this heading (Char & McDermott, ; Davis, ; Dickens, ; Finch, , ; Freda, ; Fromer, ; Heima, ; Horsley, ; Hurry, ; Kane, ; McHale, ; Rae, ; Schorr, ; Silva, ; Taylor, Safriet, & Weitz, ; Ventura, ). Five of the articles grouped under this theme are from the United Kingdom: (Kane; McHale; Hurry; Finch; Rae).…”

“…Three subthemes emerged: (a) respecting the right of nurses to determine their own moral and ethical participation (or not) in providing care to women seeking abortion (Char & McDermott, ; Dickens, ; Finch, , ; Fromer, ; Horsley, ; Hurry, ; Kane, ; McHale, ; Rae, ; Taylor et al, ; Ventura, ); (b) explanation of current abortion law (Dickens; Finch; Heiman, ; Horsley; Rae); and (c) workplace issues caused by the provision of abortion care (Kane; Ventura; Silva, ; Char & McDermott).…”

The value of nurse bioethicists

“…Their early writings are wide ranging, addressing topics such as the importance of caring and caregiving, advocacy, ethical decision making, resuscitation, truth-telling, research ethics, professionalism, and the value of ethics education. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] In fact, more than 40 years ago, Mila Aroskar 5 argued for faculty and administrative commitment to the study of bioethics in nursing practice, recognizing that nurses are "particularly vulnerable" to ethical issues that can create both personal and professional conflicts.…”