Nurses' ethical reflections on caring for people with malodorous exuding ulcers

Area of Science:

• Nursing Care
• Wound Management
• Patient Experience

Background:

• Malodorous exuding ulcers present unique challenges in patient care.
• Understanding nurses' perspectives is crucial for improving care quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore nurses' reflections on obstacles and opportunities in caring for patients with malodorous exuding ulcers.
• To identify factors influencing the provision of desired patient care.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving six nurses previously participated in a related study.
• Semi-structured interviews were conducted, followed by qualitative content analysis of transcribed data.

Main Results:

• Nurses' core theme was 'striving to do good and be good'.
• Identified obstacles included clinical and organizational constraints, ineffective communication, fear of failure, and powerlessness.
• Possibilities for improved care involved knowledge dissemination, holistic patient consideration, and enhanced communication channels.

Conclusions:

• Multiprofessional teams can mitigate obstacles by providing structure, expertise, and support.
• Addressing identified constraints can help nurses achieve their goal of providing excellent care.
• Improving communication and fostering a holistic approach are key to enhancing care for patients with malodorous exuding ulcers.