Self-care as an ethical obligation for nurses

Area of Science:

• Nursing Ethics
• Healthcare Professional Well-being
• Caring Science

Background:

• Nurses are vital healthcare partners, yet often place patient needs above their own wellness.
• Survey data indicates a significant majority of nurses prioritize patient health, safety, and wellness over personal well-being.
• Global nursing codes of ethics increasingly emphasize self-care as a professional responsibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the ethical imperative and theoretical underpinnings of self-care for nurses.
• To examine how nursing codes of ethics and caring theories support nurse self-care.
• To highlight the connection between nurse self-care and the provision of high-quality patient care.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of nursing codes of ethics, specifically the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics.
• Review of foundational theories in nursing, including Watson's Philosophy and Science of Caring and Caritas processes.
• Synthesis of ethical requirements and theoretical frameworks supporting nurse self-care.

Main Results:

• The ANA Code of Ethics uniquely mandates self-care as a duty to self, alongside patient care.
• Watson's theory and Caritas processes provide a philosophical basis for self-care, emphasizing self-compassion.
• These frameworks advocate a holistic approach to self-care, encompassing mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

Conclusions:

• Self-care is an ethical duty for nurses, integral to providing authentic and effective patient care.
• Integrating Watson's Caritas processes can guide nurses toward holistic self-care practices.
• Prioritizing nurse self-care enhances their capacity for compassionate and high-quality patient care.