Going through the motions: the ethics of process

Area of Science:

• Nursing Ethics
• Professional Accountability
• Clinical Knowledge Development

Background:

• The prevailing ethic in nursing is primarily process-oriented.
• This focus limits nursing to activities like research and the clinical nursing process.
• These processes are not exclusive to nursing, being common across professional disciplines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critique the current ethic of nursing.
• To argue for the necessity of an ethic of accountability in nursing.
• To highlight the need for developing expert clinical knowledge within nursing.

Main Methods:

• Philosophical analysis of nursing ethics.
• Argumentative critique of process-oriented ethics.
• Conceptual development of accountability in nursing practice.

Main Results:

• The current nursing ethic is deemed inadequate due to its exclusive focus on process.
• Process-oriented activities are not unique to nursing, diluting its professional identity.
• A significant gap exists in the ethical framework regarding accountability and expert knowledge.

Conclusions:

• Nursing requires an evolution beyond a process-based ethic.
• The integration of an ethic of accountability is essential for professional sufficiency.
• Development of expert clinical knowledge must be coupled with this enhanced ethical framework.