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“Values That Vanish into Thin Air”: Nurses' Experience of Ethical Values in Their Daily Work

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  • Gro Bentzen
  • Anita Harsvik
  • Berit Støre Brinchmann

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine how nurses experience ethical values as they are expressed in daily practice in a Norwegian hospital. A growing focus in Western healthcare on effectiveness, production, and retrenchment has an influence on professional nursing standards and nursing values. Lack of resources and subsequent ethically difficult prioritizations imply a strain on nurses. This study is qualitative. Data collection was carried out by conducting 4 focus group interviews. The data was analyzed using content analysis. The results are presented in two main themes: (1) values and reflection are important for the nurses; (2) time pressure and nursing frustrations in daily work. The results demonstrate that nurses believe the ethical values to be of crucial importance for the quality of nursing; however, the ethical values are often repressed in daily practice. This results in feeling of frustration, fatigue, and guilty conscience for the nurses. There is a need for changes in the system which could contribute to the development of a caring culture that would take care of both patients and nurses. In an endeavour to reach this goal, one could apply caritative leadership theory, which is grounded on the caritas motive, human love, and mercy.

Suggested Citation

  • Gro Bentzen & Anita Harsvik & Berit Støre Brinchmann, 2013. "“Values That Vanish into Thin Air”: Nurses' Experience of Ethical Values in Their Daily Work," Nursing Research and Practice, Hindawi, vol. 2013, pages 1-8, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:hin:jnlnrp:939153
    DOI: 10.1155/2013/939153
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kälvemark, Sofia & Höglund, Anna T. & Hansson, Mats G. & Westerholm, Peter & Arnetz, Bengt, 2004. "Living with conflicts-ethical dilemmas and moral distress in the health care system," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 58(6), pages 1075-1084, March.
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    1. Annamaria Bagnasco & Milko Zanini & Nicoletta Dasso & Silvia Rossi & Fiona Timmins & Miss Carolina Galanti & Giuseppe Aleo & Gianluca Catania & Loredana Sasso, 2020. "Dignity, privacy, respect and choice—A scoping review of measurement of these concepts within acute healthcare practice," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(11-12), pages 1832-1857, June.

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