ETHICAL VALUES AND RESOLUTION OF ETHICAL VALUE CONFLICTS BY NURSE EDUCATORS.
Contributors: George Mason University.
Published: 1995
Number of pages: 197
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Education, Higher.
Description: The purpose of this descriptive, qualitative study was to identify ethical values and ethical value conflicts encountered by nurse educators and to explore the resolution process of ethical value conflicts by nurse educators.

A sample of 47 nurse educators from National League for Nursing accredited baccalaureate programs in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States comprised the initial sample. From the initial sample, a purposeful sample of 14 nurse educators was selected for in-depth interviews. Data were collected from 10 face-to-face and 4 telephone interviews. A revised method of thematic content analysis outlined by Burnard (1991) was used for data analysis. Data analysis resulted in the emergence of multiple themes with the following conclusions: (a) nurse educators found that ethical value conflicts were inherent in interactions with students, were multifactorial in nature, and were created at times simply by adherence to good nursing practice; (b) nurse educators were able to identify values in conflict as ethical; (c) nurse educators identified a process of actions to resolve ethical value conflicts; (d) nurse educators found that confronting and resolving ethical value conflicts was hard work and complex; (e) nurse educators used ethical principles and theories to guide them in resolving ethical value conflicts; (f) nurse educators experienced emotional reactions (moral distress) to ethical value conflicts and experienced moral distress throughout the process; (g) nurse educators experienced resolution when they believed they had acted in an ethical manner, had done all they could, ethical principles were followed, and/or outcomes were positive; and (h) decisions of the resolution process had consequences for faculty and students. In addition, the interview process allowed for exploration of many facets of the subject and assisted nurse educators in further introspection and resolution of their feelings.

Recommendations for nurse educators and the nursing profession, as well as further research, were discussed. Study results can be used for guidance in resolution of ethical value conflicts. Furthermore, schools of nursing, nurse educators, and health care agency personnel can use results from the study to examine behaviors critically and evaluate actions for ethical merit.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-01, Section: B, page: 0173.

Thesis (PH.D.)--GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY, 1995.

School code: 0883.