Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2007. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 99 p. : ill. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 62-69).

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the ethical decision making self-efficacy of a sample of state-credentialed psychologists and counselors. A questionnaire was constructed which asked respondents to rate the confidence they possessed in relation to thirty items (reflecting ten a priori ethical decision-making domains). The items described ethical knowledge and ethical decision-making tasks and situations. The questionnaire also included eight questions pertaining to respondents' personal characteristics and professional education, training, and experience. The questionnaire was mailed to 400 Arizona-licensed psychologists and 340 Arizona-certified counselors. Although no formal, a priori hypotheses were established prior to the survey, it was expected that the extent and quality of professional ethics training might be associated with higher scores on factors generated by an exploratory factor analysis performed on survey results. In particular, it was anticipated that a values-clarification component of ethics training would be associated with higher ethical decision-making factor scores. Approximately 50% of the total sample responded to the survey. The factor analysis of scorable questionnaires resulted in a six-factor model of ethical decision-making self-efficacy. The six factors were: (1) Knowledge, (2) Behavior, (3) Thinking, (4) Awareness, (5) Resources, (6) Authorities-Conflict Analysis/Resolution. Having taken an ethics course as a student was associated with higher scores on factors 1, 5, and 6. Having taken an ethics training seminar as a postgraduate was associated with higher scores on factors 1, 2, and 5. Those respondents with a values clarification component to their ethics training scored higher on factors 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6. Study results suggest that further development of an Ethical Decision Making Self-Efficacy Scale and pursuit of a national survey of psychologists and counselors addressing issues raised in this study are warranted.

Nurses should play a key role in providing not only information on the physical aspect, but also the psychological/emotional aspects involved in having an abortion. The purpose of this review was to determine the appropriateness of nursing interventions to screen, counsel, and educate women pre- and post-abortion. The online databases used to conduct this integrative review of research included CINAHL, Medline, Psychinfo, and Psycharticles. Articles selected were published between 1997 and 2009 in the English language. Key search terms included "abortion," "counseling," "education," "guilt," "anxiety," "coping," "perinatal loss," and "support." Eighteen studies were reviewed, revealing the lack of screening, education, and counseling for women both before and after abortion. The current two-weeks postabortion follow-ups do not take into account the long-term emotional effects of abortion which may include anxiety, guilt, shame, isolation, stigmatization, substance abuse, and suicide. Support from nurses, family, and support groups have shown to be effective interventions.

RESUME The times based on one individual's decision about which school to study to be able to choose further continuous and smooth career path has been over. As a result of current global and local social changes everybody should be prepared to the every possible change in career. Nevertheless the first choice of career is still an important milestone and can direct the individual career, but it is not the only key milestone, that determines the individual career once and for ever. People in contemporary world should be able to respond quickly to constant changes, evaluate new situations and be able to make the right decisions. The widespread myth is that success means to raise money as quickly as possible to guarantee the freedom and happiness. But a real success is a contented life, which is a long way over such values as for example certainty that we are doing the work that we like and which fills us with satisfaction. Individual goal is to focus on the abilities and skills so that the decision directs to such a career path where one will be able to optimally exploit one's potential in a future career. In the beginning of a career path a family as a primary socializing agent and the closest partner institution in the life of the pupil should fulfil its role in close cooperation with the school that...