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VOLUME 26 , ISSUE 3 ( March, 2022 ) > List of Articles

Original Article

Ethical Attitudes of Intensive Care Nurses during Clinical Practice and Affecting Factors

Meryem Türkan Işık, Deniz Serinkaya

Keywords : Ethical attitude, Ethics, Intensive care, Nursing, Value

Citation Information : Işık MT, Serinkaya D. Ethical Attitudes of Intensive Care Nurses during Clinical Practice and Affecting Factors. Indian J Crit Care Med 2022; 26 (3):288-293.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10071-24143

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 30-03-2022

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2022; The Author(s).


Abstract

Background: Technological advances in critical care contribute to patient survival, but healthcare professionals working in these units, which require technical expertise, experience highly challenging ethical decision-making processes. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the attitudes of intensive care nurses toward ethical problems they face during clinical practice and the affecting factors. Method: The study included a total of 294 nurses working in the intensive care units at a city hospital. Data was collected using the Personal Information Form and Ethical Attitude Scale for Nursing Care. Findings: About 58.8% of the participants were females and 71.1% had undergraduate degrees. The total scale score was 56.48 ± 15.98. A statistically significant difference was found between participants’ gender, weekly working hours, ethical definition status, and scale score averages. Conclusion: More than half experienced frequent ethical problems and tried to solve them on their own. Trainings aimed at developing ethical sensitivity and participation in symposiums/conferences that address ethical issues specific to intensive care are recommended.


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