Moral Breakdowns and Ethical Dilemmas of Perioperative Nurses during COVID-19 : COREQ-Compliant Study
Sillero-Sillero, Amalia (Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques)
Ayuso Margañon, Raquel (Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques)
Gil Poisa, Maria (Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques)
Buil, Neus (Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau)
Padrosa, Eva (Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques)
Insa Calderón, Esther (Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques)
Marques-Sule, Elena (Universitat de València)
Alcover Van de Walle, Carlota (Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques)
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Date:	2023
Abstract:	The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the complexity of caregiving, resulting in challenging situations for perioperative nurses. These situations have prompted nurses to assess their personal and professional lives. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of perioperative nurses during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a specific focus on analyzing moral breakdowns and ethical dilemmas triggered by this situation. A qualitative design guided by a hermeneutical approach was employed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 perioperative nurses. The interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed following the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines. The findings revealed three main categories and ten subcategories. These categories included the context in which moral breakdowns emerged, the ethical dilemmas triggered by these breakdowns, and the consequences of facing these dilemmas. During the first wave of COVID-19, perioperative nurses encountered moral and ethical challenges, referred to as moral breakdowns, in critical settings. These challenges presented significant obstacles and negatively impacted professional responsibility and well-being. Future studies should focus on identifying ethical dilemmas during critical periods and developing strategies to enhance collaboration among colleagues and provide comprehensive support.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	COVID-19 pandemic ; Ethical dilemmas ; Moral dilemmas ; Nurses ; Nursing ; Qualitative study
Published in:	Healthcare, Vol. 11 Núm. 13 (july 2023) , p. 1937, ISSN 2227-9032

DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11131937
PMID: 37444771

14 p, 293.5 KB

The record appears in these collections:
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Institut de Recerca Sant Pau
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles