Workarounds Are Routinely Used by Nurses-But Are They Ethical?

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Ethics
• Organizational Behavior

Background:

• Nurses frequently encounter systemic inefficiencies impacting patient care.
• Workarounds are common nursing practice to overcome perceived system flaws.
• Unacknowledged workarounds can lead to ethical dilemmas and potential patient harm.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the ethical implications of nursing workarounds.
• To discuss strategies for nurses to be creative problem solvers within ethical boundaries.
• To highlight the tension between efficient care and adherence to formal systems.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of nursing practices and ethical frameworks.
• Discussion of real-world scenarios and potential consequences.
• Exploration of alternative approaches to system navigation.

Main Results:

• Workarounds, while often well-intentioned, can become ethically problematic when concealed.
• Nurses' creativity in problem-solving is valuable but requires ethical consideration.
• Systemic flaws contribute to the necessity of workarounds.

Conclusions:

• Nurses must balance providing efficient care with ethical practice.
• Open communication and system improvement are crucial to address workaround issues.
• Creative problem-solving should align with ethical standards to avoid unintended harm.