Emergency nurses' moral evaluation of patients

Introduction Judgments by nurses concerning patients' moral fitness and the appropriateness of their visits to the emergency department are made constantly. The treatment rendered to patients is affected by these judgments. This study explored which patient characteristics emergency nurses used to morally evaluate patients, determined reasons the nurses gave for this behavior, and identified some factors that contributed to the evaluative behavior. Methods An exploratory, descriptive study with a mailed questionnaire was conducted on nurses working in emergency departments in hospitals throughout Alberta. Results Eighty-three questionnaires were completed and returned, representing a response rate of 55%. A hierarchy emerged from the data, validating previous research. Nature of the illness and diagnosis, in addition to certain patient characteristics, were critical in determining emergency nurses' attitudes. Nurses appeared to be unaware that they were acting prejudicially. Discussion When patients are aware of being disliked by the nurses caring for them, nurse-patient communication and relationship are jeopardized. This may affect care and, ultimately, recovery. Recommendations included encouraging nurses to recognize the dynamics, consequences, and inherent dangers of labeling patients and to improve their understanding of patients identified as unfavorable.