The development of ethical guidelines for nurses' collegiality using the Delphi method

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Ethics
• Professional Development

Background:

• Nurses' collegiality is crucial for complex patient care, necessitating shared knowledge and practices.
• Existing collaboration models for nurses often overlook ethical considerations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop evidence-based guidelines for enhancing nurses' collegiality.
• Utilized the Delphi method to achieve expert consensus on collegiality principles.

Main Methods:

• Employed a four-step Delphi method with two online expert panels (35 and 40 Finnish nurses).
• Items on nurses' collegiality were identified, reformulated, and rated for validity and importance.
• Data analyzed using content analysis and descriptive statistics to formulate guidelines.

Main Results:

• The Delphi process resulted in 32 reformulated items concerning nurses' collegiality.
• Eight items achieved over 75% agreement, highlighting mutual professional respect as paramount.
• Key findings emphasize shared patient objectives and the foundational role of professional ethics in collegiality.

Conclusions:

• Nurses' collegiality is recognized in practice but under-researched.
• Guidelines can support collegiality, a shared responsibility among clinicians, educators, and managers.
• Further research is needed across diverse nursing settings to deepen understanding and practice.