New Zealand nursing students’ experiences of ethical issues in clinical practice: A descriptive study

BACKGROUND It has been recognised that nursing students do not experience ethical problems in clinical practice in the same way as graduate or experienced nurses (Cameron, Schaffer & Park, 2001). In order to develop ethical reasoning and competence in nursing students, nurse educators must recognise the unique problems students face (Solum, Maluwa & Severinsson, 2012). There has been no documented research to date that explores New Zealand undergraduate nursing students’ experiences of ethical issues in clinical practice. AIM OF THE RESEARCH The purpose of this descriptive study was to identify (a) the most frequently occurring ethical issues experienced by Bachelor of Nursing students in New Zealand and (b) the level of distress that the students feel when faced with these issues. RESEARCH DESIGN A web-based questionnaire was developed, incorporating the ethical issues related to patient rights and patient care identified within a literature review along with a qualitative open ended question. The survey was distributed via email to members of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) National Student Unit (NSU). Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were conducted to ascertain the most frequent and distressing ethical issues evaluated and to determine if any differences existed between certain groups. FINDINGS Unsafe working conditions have proven to be the most commonly occurring and one of the most distressing ethical issues facing New Zealand Bachelor of Nursing students. Other issues that occur frequently in clinical practice are breaches of ethical principles relating to patient rights such as confidentiality, privacy, dignity and respect. The most distressing issues were found to be those that involve patient care and the compromising of the safety of patients, including unsafe working environments, unsafe health care practices and suspected abuse or neglect. Themes that emerged from the responses to the qualitative question included lack of support and supervision, bullying, end of life care issues and breaches of the ethical principle of veracity. RECOMMENDATIONS Research on this issue may be beneficial in assisting with the organisation and preparation of ethics education and the facilitating of students’ clinical experiences. It is hoped that by developing ethics education around the main concerns that students have in clinical practice, this will enhance students understanding of the issues herein and their ability to respond appropriately.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Nursing

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Grantor

Eastern Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2013

Author dc:creator

• Sinclair, Jill

• New Zealand
• nursing students
• Māori nursing students
• clinical practice
• ethics
• experience
• moral distress
• ethics education
• surveys

Statement dc:rights

• All rights reserved

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10652/6496

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:null:10652/6496