Examining Ethical Dilemmas And Challenges Faced By Nurses In Clinical Practice Ksa , Ministry Of Health , Nursing

Abstract

This literature review investigates the ethical quandaries and obstacles encountered during the clinical practice of nurses. The nursing profession is distinguished by its ethical obligation to maintain the dignity and integrity of every patient. Nurses encounter ethical dilemmas on a daily basis throughout their professional duties, encompassing both life-threatening emergencies and routine affairs. Nevertheless, scholarly investigations reveal that nurses frequently confront ethical dilemmas stemming from inconsistencies between their professional responsibilities and the fundamental tenets of healthcare, which culminate in exhaustion and a deficiency in ethical consciousness. The objective of this review is to present a thorough examination and evaluation of the ethical dilemmas that nurse's face in modern therapeutic environments. The inclusion criteria for this review encompassed clinical practice-based studies that were published in English and appeared in peer-reviewed journals from 2010 to 2023. Exclusion criteria encompassed non-peer-reviewed literature, research conducted in non-clinical environments, and studies published in languages other than English. An electronic database search strategy was implemented in a systematic manner, and the chosen studies were subjected to a thorough filtering procedure. The examination of the studies that were incorporated unveiled three overarching themes: the intricate equilibrium between damage and care, the influence of burden on quality, and the procedure for maneuvering through conflicts. Frequently, nurses encounter circumstances that require them to depart from their personal conception of ideal care, resulting in emotional strain and ethical quandary. Further, the ethical and moral decision-making abilities of nurses are influenced by the difficulties associated with regulated regimens and streamlined treatment schedules in the context of individual care situations.