Ethical dilemmas facing chief nurses in Japan: A Pilot study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Leadership
• Bioethics
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Chief nurses are pivotal in addressing ethical dilemmas and fostering an ethical organizational culture.
• Effective ethics training is a key outcome of proactive ethical leadership.
• Defining common ethical dilemmas faced by chief nurses is crucial for future research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and categorize the ethical dilemmas encountered by chief nurses.
• To understand the challenges chief nurses face in resolving ethical issues.
• To inform strategies for enhancing ethical practice in nursing.

Main Methods:

• Anonymous written questionnaires were utilized to gather data.
• Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gain in-depth insights.
• Ethical approval was obtained from the Chubu University Ethics Review Board.

Main Results:

• Ethical dilemmas were categorized into two main types: those concerning patient dignity and those related to management.
• Chief nurses reported difficulties in resolving ethical dilemmas despite consulting with superiors.
• A gap exists between chief nurses' efforts to resolve dilemmas and successful outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Chief nurses' roles encompass both patient-centered ethical concerns and administrative challenges.
• Improved communication and collaborative discussions are essential for resolving ethical dilemmas.
• Chief nurses are expected to coordinate with physicians to enhance patient dignity and ethical care delivery.