Related Experiment Videos
Being a good nurse and doing the right thing: a qualitative study
Katharine V Smith1, Nelda S Godfrey
1University of Missouri, Kansas City School of Nursing, 2220 Holmes, Kansas City, MO 64108-2676, USA. smithkv@umkc.edu
Nursing Ethics
|May 31, 2002
Summary
This study explores what nurses perceive as being a good nurse and doing the right thing. Findings suggest ethical nursing involves complex decision-making, valuing personal attributes consistent with virtue ethics.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Ethics
- Virtue Ethics
- Qualitative Research
Background:
- Limited empirical research exists on virtue ethics in nursing.
- A key claim is that ethical nursing equates to a good nurse performing the right action.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore nurses' perceptions of the qualities of a good nurse.
- To understand nurses' perspectives on how to perform ethically ('doing the right thing').
Main Methods:
- Descriptive, qualitative study design.
- Data collected via open-ended questions answered by 53 nurses.
- Qualitative content analysis applied to 331 data units.
Main Results:
- Seven emergent categories: personal characteristics, professional characteristics, patient centeredness, advocacy, competence, critical thinking, and patient care.
- Nurses perceive ethical nursing as multifaceted, utilizing diverse decision-making frameworks.
- Personal attributes, both intuitive and analytical, are highly valued, aligning with virtue ethics.
Conclusions:
- Ethical nursing is a complex process influenced by the nurse's inherent personal qualities.
- Further research is required to define the 'good nurse' and its implications for nursing practice and education.