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When the family asks, 'what happened?'.
1Department of Health Promotion and Development, Center for Research in Chronic Disorders, School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. jae001@pitt.edu
Orthopedic Nursing
|March 20, 2002
Summary
Hospital nurses often face ethical dilemmas when families question adverse patient events. Strategies like mentorship and ethics consultations can help nurses navigate moral distress and the "nurse in the middle" phenomenon.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Ethics
- Bioethics
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Hospitalized patients' high acuity increases the risk of adverse events.
- Nurses often build strong relationships with patients' families.
- Families may approach nurses with concerns about negative patient outcomes, creating complex situations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss the ethical perspective of caring in nursing.
- To explore the
Main Methods:
- Literature review on nursing ethics and moral distress.
- Analysis of the
Main Results:
- Nurses can experience ethical dilemmas and moral distress when families raise concerns about adverse events.
- Nurses may feel powerless and
Conclusions:
- Consulting mentors and ethics committees can support nurses.
- Promoting an ethical climate within healthcare settings is crucial for managing these challenges.