Nurses' perception of troubled conscience in intensive care units: a qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Ethics
• Psychology

Background:

• A troubled conscience arises from neglecting internal moral guidance.
• Intensive care unit (ICU) healthcare workers face significant stressors, frequently leading to a troubled conscience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the contributing factors to a troubled conscience among ICU nurses.
• To identify the repercussions of a troubled conscience experienced by ICU nurses.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative content analysis approach.
• Purposive sampling of 18 ICU nurses.
• Face-to-face, semi-structured interviews for data collection.

Main Results:

• Key causes identified: carelessness, contextual challenges, and non-supportive/unpredictable structures.
• These factors contribute to a "whirlpool of troubled conscience" among ICU nurses.

Conclusions:

• A troubled conscience adversely affects nurses, manifesting in psychological and behavioral changes.
• Identifying and understanding the causes of troubled conscience can aid healthcare providers in managing this issue.