Nurses' ethical challenges caring for people with COVID-19: A qualitative study.
COVID-19
ethical challenges
nurses
qualitative research
Journal
Nursing ethics
ISSN: 1477-0989
Titre abrégé: Nurs Ethics
Pays: England
ID NLM: 9433357
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Feb 2021
Feb 2021
Historique:
pubmed:
29
8
2020
medline:
20
2
2021
entrez:
29
8
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Ethical challenges are common in clinical nursing practice, and an infectious environment could put nurses under ethical challenges more easily, which may cause nurses to submit to negative emotions and psychological pressure, damaging their mental health. To examine the ethical challenges encountered by nurses caring for patients with the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) and to provide nurses with suggestions and support regarding promotion of their mental health. A qualitative study was carried out using a qualitative content analysis. The participants were 18 nurses who agreed to attend an interview and describe their own experiences of providing care to COVID-19 patients in China. They were purposively sampled, and structured, in-depth interviews were performed. Data were iteratively collected and analyzed from February to March 2020. The proposal was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Second Hospital of Shandong University, China. The findings revealed three main themes and 10 categories. The themes were the following: (1) ethical challenges (people with COVID-19, inequality, professional ethics, and job competency); (2) coping styles (active control and planning, seeking support as well as catharsis, and staying focused); and (3) impacts on career (specialized nursing skills, scientific research ability, and management skills). Nurses faced ethical challenges on multiple fronts in caring for COVID-19 patients. The results may help nurses with more safety, ethics, and humanistic care in nursing practice.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Ethical challenges are common in clinical nursing practice, and an infectious environment could put nurses under ethical challenges more easily, which may cause nurses to submit to negative emotions and psychological pressure, damaging their mental health.
PURPOSE
OBJECTIVE
To examine the ethical challenges encountered by nurses caring for patients with the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) and to provide nurses with suggestions and support regarding promotion of their mental health.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHOD
METHODS
A qualitative study was carried out using a qualitative content analysis. The participants were 18 nurses who agreed to attend an interview and describe their own experiences of providing care to COVID-19 patients in China. They were purposively sampled, and structured, in-depth interviews were performed. Data were iteratively collected and analyzed from February to March 2020.
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
METHODS
The proposal was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Second Hospital of Shandong University, China.
FINDINGS
RESULTS
The findings revealed three main themes and 10 categories. The themes were the following: (1) ethical challenges (people with COVID-19, inequality, professional ethics, and job competency); (2) coping styles (active control and planning, seeking support as well as catharsis, and staying focused); and (3) impacts on career (specialized nursing skills, scientific research ability, and management skills).
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
Nurses faced ethical challenges on multiple fronts in caring for COVID-19 patients. The results may help nurses with more safety, ethics, and humanistic care in nursing practice.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32856534
doi: 10.1177/0969733020944453
pmc: PMC7653013
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng