J Korean Crit Care Nurs.  2018 Oct;11(3):1-11. 10.0000/jkccn.2018.11.3.1.

Comparison of Experiences of Ethical Dilemma between Intensive Care Unit and General Unit Nurses regarding Treatment Decisions and Confidentiality

Affiliations
  • 1Professor, Department of Nursing Science, Sungshin Women's University, Seoul, Korea.
  • 2Associate Professor, College of Nursing, The Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. ckoh@snu.ac.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study compares experiences of ethical dilemma between nurses working in intensive care units and those in general units under specific situations of treatment decisions and confidentiality. METHOD: This cross-sectional descriptive study utilizes the self-report survey method. The survey questionnaires were completed by 50 and 52 nurses working in intensive care units and general units, respectively. The instrument, which consisted of 16 items of ethical dilemma situations about treatment decision and confidentiality, was used. The mean scores for each item were compared between the two groups.
RESULTS
The study found no differences in terms of age, gender, education level, clinical experience in years, and being educated on healthcare ethics. For 9 out of 16 items, the mean scores of nurses in intensive care units were significantly higher than those of nurses in general units.
CONCLUSION
Nurses in intensive care units experienced ethical dilemmas regarding treatment decisions and confidentiality more often than those in general units. This study emphasizes the need to establish strategies for improving the ethical competence of critical care nurses.

Keyword

Ethical dilemma; Intensive care unit nurse; Treatment; Confidentiality

MeSH Terms

Confidentiality*
Critical Care*
Delivery of Health Care
Education
Ethics
Intensive Care Units*
Mental Competency
Methods
Surveys and Questionnaires
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