Developing a moral compass: Themes from the Clinical Ethics Residency for Nurses’ final essays

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-39
Author(s):  
Susan Lee ◽  
Ellen M Robinson ◽  
Pamela J Grace ◽  
Angelika Zollfrank ◽  
Martha Jurchak
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Ethics ◽  
Moral Agency ◽  
Ethics Education ◽  
Ethical Decision ◽  
Ethical Decision Making ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Educational Approach ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
Moral Compass

Background: The Clinical Ethics Residency for Nurses was offered selectively to nurses affiliated with two academic medical centers to increase confidence in ethical decision-making. Research Question/Aim: To discover how effective the participants perceived the program and if their goals of participation had been met. Research design: A total of 65 end-of-course essays (from three cohorts) were analyzed using modified directed content analysis. In-depth and recursive readings of the essays by faculty were guided by six questions that had been posed to graduates. Ethical considerations: Institutional review board approval was granted for the duration of the program and its reporting period. Confidentiality was maintained via the use of codes for all evaluations including the essays and potentially identifying content redacted. Findings: An umbrella theme emerged: participants had developed ethical knowledge and skills that provided a “moral compass to navigate the many gray areas of decision-making that confront them in daily practice.” Six major themes corresponding to questions posed to the participants included the ability to advocate for good patient care; to support and empower colleagues, patients, and families; they experienced personal and professional transformation; they valued the multimodal nature of the program; and were using their new knowledge and skills in practice. However, they also recognized that their development as moral agents was an ongoing process. Discussion: Findings support that enhancing nurse confidence in their moral agency with a multimodal educational approach that includes mentored practice in ethical decision-making, enhancing communication skills and role-play can mitigate moral distress. A majority found the program personally and professionally transformative. However, they recognized that ongoing ethics discussion involvement and supportive environments would be important in their continued development of ethical agency. Conclusion: Multimodal ethics education programs have potential to be transformative and enhance nurse confidence in their ethical decision-making.

How far ethics education positively influences ethical decision making of the young lawyers in Kedah?

2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 83
Author(s):  
Anida Mahmood ◽  
Haswira Nor Mohamad Hashim ◽  
Kamarul Ariffin Mansor
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Ethics Education ◽  
Ethical Decision ◽  
Current Practice ◽  
Ethical Decision Making ◽  
The State ◽  
Legal Ethics ◽  
Basic Premise ◽  
Law Faculty ◽  
Ethics Course

This paper was written based on part of the findings of a survey made on young lawyers who are practicing in the state of Kedah. Young lawyers are advocates and solicitors with less than seven y ears of active practice. The objective of this study is to determine what factors positively influenced young lawyers' ethical decision making. Data was collected from /33 young lawyers who are practicing in the state of Kedah between January - June 2006 through self-administered and close- end questionnaires. The finding suggests that knowledge in professional legal ethics gained at the law faculty, pupil age and short ethics course does not contribute much to the ethical decision making of the young lawyers. Moved by this finding. this paper attempts to discuss the current legal ethics education in Malaysia. The main contention of the writers is their firm belief that the current practice of professional legal ethics education in Malaysia is insufficient and far from being adequate in producing ethical lawyers. Therefore the writers have proposed for professional legal ethics education in Malaysia to be reformed and this proposal serves as the basic premise of this paper.

Hindrances to achieve professional confidence: The nurse’s participation in ethical decision-making

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 715-727 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Storaker ◽  
Dagfinn Nåden ◽  
Berit Sæteren
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Data Storage ◽  
Ethical Decision ◽  
Ethical Decision Making ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Daily Practice ◽  
Clinical Work ◽  
Ethical Guidelines ◽  
Science Data ◽  
Written Information

Background: Research suggests that nurses generally do not participate in ethical decision-making in accordance with ethical guidelines for nurses. In addition to completing their training, nurses need to reflect on and use ethically grounded arguments and defined ethical values such as patient’s dignity in their clinical work. Objectives: The purpose of this article is to gain a deeper understanding of how nurses deal with ethical decision-making in daily practice. The chosen research question is “How do nurses participate in ethical decision-making for the patient?” Design and method: We use Gadamer’s philosophical hermeneutics as well as Kvale and Brinkmann’s three levels of understanding in interpreting the data material. Nine registered nurses were interviewed. Ethical considerations: The Ombudsman of Norwegian Social Science Data and the head of the hospital approved the investigation. The participants received both oral and written information about the study and they gave their consent. We informed the participants that the participation was voluntary and that they were free to withdraw at any point in the course of the study. The requirement of anonymity and proper data storage was in accordance with the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki (1964). The participants were assured that privacy, and confidentiality would be duly protected. Results: Four key themes emerged: (1) confusion in relation to professional and operational expectations of role, (2) ideal somnolence, (3) inadequate argumentation skills, and (4) compound pressure. Conclusion: Ethical ideals appear to be latent in the mindset of the participants; however, the main finding of this investigation is that nurses need to activate the ideals and apply them into practice. Furthermore, management needs to initiate professional reasoning and interdisciplinary discussions leading to common goals for patients.

Effects of using standardized patients on nursing students’ moral skills

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 1587-1602
Author(s):  
Gulhan Erkus Kucukkelepce ◽  
Leyla Dinc ◽  
Melih Elcin
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Nursing Students ◽  
Moral Reasoning ◽  
Teaching Methods ◽  
Ethics Education ◽  
Ethical Decision ◽  
Ethical Decision Making ◽  
Case Analysis ◽  
Standardized Patients ◽  
Moral Sensitivity

Background: Nurses and nursing students increasingly confront ethical problems in clinical practice. Moral sensitivity, moral reasoning, and ethical decision-making are therefore important skills throughout the nursing profession. Innovative teaching methods as part of the ethics training of nursing students help them acquire these fundamental skills. Aim: This study investigated the effects and potential benefits of using standardized patients in ethics education on nursing baccalaureate students’ moral sensitivity, moral reasoning, and ethical decision-making by comparing this method with in-class case analyses. Research design: This is a quasi-experimental study. Participants and research context: The sample comprised 89 students in Hacettepe University’s Faculty of Nursing. Following lectures describing the theoretical components of ethics, students were randomly assigned to two working groups, one using standardized patients and the other using in-class case analyses. Data were collected using the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire, Rest’s Defining Issues Test, and the Nursing Dilemma Test. All data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 23. Ethical considerations: Ethical approval and official permission were obtained. All participating students completed informed consent forms. Findings: According to the results, the moral sensitivity of students in the standardized patient group significantly improved over time compared to those in the case analysis group, while the mean scores of students in both groups for moral reasoning and ethical decision-making were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Based on our results, we recommend the use of both standardized patients and case analysis as appropriate teaching methods in ethics education.

Ethics for Students Means Knowing and Experiencing

2015 ◽  
pp. 153-178
Author(s):  
Cynthia Roberts ◽  
Carolyn D. Roper
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Ethical Behavior ◽  
Ethics Education ◽  
Ethical Decision ◽  
Ethical Decision Making ◽  
Multiple Perspectives ◽  
Ethical Thought ◽  
Business Programs ◽  
Scholarly Literature ◽  
Potential Impact

There is growing interest in ethics education and the literature is replete with methods for approaching this complex and challenging subject. This chapter reviews the state of ethics education in business programs from infusion across the curriculum to standalone courses, the potential impact it may have on ethical behavior, and outlines several approaches to addressing ethics in the classroom. An instructional module in ethical decision making, grounded in scholarly literature, is presented. The authors discuss implications for practice and suggest utilizing several approaches from multiple perspectives to facilitate the development of ethical thought and action.

Ethics for Students Means Knowing and Experiencing

2015 ◽  
pp. 598-623
Author(s):  
Cynthia Roberts ◽  
Carolyn D. Roper
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Ethical Behavior ◽  
Ethics Education ◽  
Ethical Decision ◽  
Ethical Decision Making ◽  
Multiple Perspectives ◽  
Ethical Thought ◽  
Business Programs ◽  
Scholarly Literature ◽  
Potential Impact

There is growing interest in ethics education and the literature is replete with methods for approaching this complex and challenging subject. This chapter reviews the state of ethics education in business programs from infusion across the curriculum to standalone courses, the potential impact it may have on ethical behavior, and outlines several approaches to addressing ethics in the classroom. An instructional module in ethical decision making, grounded in scholarly literature, is presented. The authors discuss implications for practice and suggest utilizing several approaches from multiple perspectives to facilitate the development of ethical thought and action.

Nursing Students’ Experience of Ethical Problems and Use of Ethical Decision-Making Models

2001 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 432-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam E Cameron ◽  
Marjorie Schaffer ◽  
Hyeoun-Ae Park
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Nursing Students ◽  
Baccalaureate Nursing ◽  
Ethics Education ◽  
Ethical Decision ◽  
Ethical Decision Making ◽  
Ethical Problem ◽  
Baccalaureate Nursing Students ◽  
Ethical Problems ◽  
Decision Making Model

Using a conceptual framework and method combining ethical enquiry and phenomenology, we asked 73 senior baccalaureate nursing students to answer two questions: (1) What is nursing students’ experience of an ethical problem involving nursing practice? and (2) What is nursing students’ experience of using an ethical decision-making model? Each student described one ethical problem, from which emerged five content categories, the largest being that involving health professionals (44%). The basic nature of the ethical problems consisted of the nursing students’ experience of conflict, resolution and rationale; 85% of the students stated that using an ethical decision-making model was helpful. Although additional research is needed, these findings have important implications for nursing ethics education and practice.

Exploring The Heart Ofethical Nursing Practice: implications for ethics education

2004 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 240-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gweneth Doane ◽  
Bernadette Pauly ◽  
Helen Brown ◽  
Gladys McPherson
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Ethics Education ◽  
Ethical Decision ◽  
Nursing Practice ◽  
Ethical Decision Making ◽  
Student Nurses ◽  
Role Expectations ◽  
Direct Care ◽  
Ethical Practice ◽  
Educational Processes

The limitations of rational models of ethical decision making and the importance of nurses’ human involvement as moral agents is increasingly being emphasized in the nursing literature. However, little is known about how nurses involve themselves in ethical decision making and action or about educational processes that support such practice. A recent study that examined the meaning and enactment of ethical nursing practice for three groups of nurses (nurses in direct care positions, student nurses, and nurses in advanced practice positions) highlighted that humanly involved ethical nursing practice is also simultaneously a personal process and a socially mediated one. Of particular significance was the way in which differing role expectations and contexts shaped the nurses’ ethical practice. The study findings pointed to types of educative experiences that may help nurses to develop the knowledge and ability to live in and navigate their way through the complex, ambiguous and shifting terrain of ethical nursing practice.

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