Thesis (NCur (Nursing Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / The current shortage of nurses has reached crisis proportions in South Africa and the effects of decreased numbers of health professionals are enormous. This results in far-reaching consequences for the health industry. An increased use of less-skilled personnel, in an attempt to meet the health care needs, impacts negatively on quality care. Personnel are often utilised outside their scope of practice, creating a high-risk therapeutic environment for the patients and health care workers alike. Consequently, the nursing managers and employers of nurses are currently faced with major challenges in ensuring that the nurses practise their profession within a safe and healthy environment, and within the legal and ethical framework of the nursing profession. For the purpose of this study the researcher decided to explore legal and ethical aspects influencing the clinical practice of the nurse. Specific objectives were set for the study. • Are nurses functioning outside their scope of practice? • Do nurses exercise their nursing right? • Do nurses function within ethical and legal guidelines? • Do caregivers function as nurses? • Do nurses still believe in the nursing philosophy? • Are nurses exploited in their area of work? • How much overtime do nurses work? These objectives were met through an in-depth explorative descriptive research design with a quantitative approach to explore legal and ethical aspects in the nursing practice. A stratified sample was drawn of all categories of nurses in selected private hospitals in the Western Cape Metropolitan area. Through the use of a questionnaire, data was collected personally by the researcher. Data analysis techniques that were used were based on descriptive and explorative procedures. Data was compressed in frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations. The Chi-square test was applied. Findings include the following: • 53% of enrolled nursing assistants do not function under indirect supervision. • 40% of caregivers assist nurses with interventional nursing care. • Nurses still believe in the philosophy of the nursing profession. • The nurse’s rights are in contradiction with the patient’s rights (p = 0.08). • Nurses feel exploited in certain areas of work, depending on their qualifications. • Nurses do recommend the profession (p = 0.043). • Enrolled nursing assistants do not respect other religions (p = 0.04). • Nurses feel free to discuss the patient’s progress with the doctor depending on the nurses’ years of experience (p = 0.03). • 23% of nurses love to care for their patients. Recommendations were made based on the findings. • The patient approach should be respectful, not judgemental, accepting the patient’s right to self-autonomy. • Nurses should realise their autonomous role in addressing concerns. • A staff mix should be utilised that facilitates safe and professional nursing care. • Unfavourable or unsociable working conditions in some units such as the theatre should be addressed. • Managers should match the work load with a proper skills mix and competency. • Nursing practice should take place within the professional and statutory scope of practice of the nurse. • Nurses should keep up to date with knowledge through continuous professional development. • Caregivers should be regulated, installing the nursing philosophy and ethics into their practice.

The focus for this study was ethical reasoning among baccalaureate female nursing students. This descriptive and correlational study examined the ethical reasoning of freshmen and senior students at a large southwestern university for women. The research instrument used was the Defining Issues Test developed by Rest. The senior nursing students differed significantly (p < ,05) from the freshmen nursing students in ethical reasoning. However, nursing majors did not differ significantly from the non-nursing majors. A multiple regression analysis was performed that identified two factors associated with ethical reasoning (viz., age and GPA), The correlation coefficients were r= .377 for age and P_ score and r= .315 for GPA and P score. Older students were found to be significantly more advanced in ethical reasoning than were younger students. Students with higher GPAs used principled reasoning significantly more often than did students with lower GPAs. Of interest are the findings related to demographic characteristics, ethnicity, and religious preference. The sample was predominantly white, but a significant difference in use of principled reasoning between whites and non-whites was found. In the sample, whites used ethical reasoning more often than did non-whites. The students in the sample who labeled themselves as Baptists were significantly different from Traditional Christians (Methodists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Lutherans, and members of the Church of Christ) and Other Christians (all others, excluding Baptists, Catholics, and the Traditional Christians). The Baptist group used principled reasoning less often than did the other two groups of Christians. The Catholics were not significantly different from the Baptist, Traditional Christian, or Other Christian groups. The results are ambiguous and may reflect only a conservative philosophy or a conservative theological ideology rather than cognitive processing.

O sofrimento moral é descrito na literatura como o sentimento resultante do impedimento à uma ação considerada moralmente apropriada, devido, sobretudo, a obstáculos institucionais, como a falta de recursos e a carga de trabalho. As consequências envolvem sintomas físicos, como mal estar, choro e desordens do sono e sintomas psicológicos, como frustração, impotência e culpa, além de implicações organizacionais, principalmente relacionadas com afastamentos e abandono do emprego. Considerando que o contexto de trabalho pode influenciar na vivência de situações moralmente problemáticas, o objetivo do estudo foi analisar o fenômeno do sofrimento moral em enfermeiros no Brasil e em Portugal. Trata-se de uma pesquisa metodológica para desenvolvimento, busca de evidências de validade e refinamento de um instrumento de pesquisa. A investigação partiu da análise de 38 estudos da literatura para construção de uma escala para identificação de fatores de risco para sofrimento moral. A busca por evidências de validade incluiu uma análise de juízes, para validação de conteúdo, e uma análise fatorial exploratória, para validação de constructo, com uma amostra de 268 enfermeiros brasileiros e 278 enfermeiros portugueses. O resultado foi uma escala com evidência de validade para ambos os países, com Alpha de Cronbach de 0,913 e 0,790, teste de Kaiser-Meyer Olkin de 0,869 e 0,914 e índice de Bartlett significativo (p <0,001) para Brasil e Portugal, respectivamente. Cerca de 59,8% da variância é explicada por 30 itens, divididos em sete fatores, na versão brasileira, e cerca de 53,9% da variância é explicada por 20 itens, divididos em 4 fatores, na versão portuguesa. A vivência de fatores de risco para sofrimento moral foi considerada moderada no Brasil e baixa em Portugal. As variáveis que mostraram associação significativa com maiores médias totais de risco nos dois países foram o tipo de serviço, as horas de trabalho, estar em sofrimento moral e ter a intenção de deixar o emprego atual. Pesquisas no âmbito do sofrimento moral podem, entre outros aspectos, auxiliar na identificação dos desafios e das dificuldades que mais preocupam os enfermeiros em seu contexto de trabalho. No intuito de contribuir no desenvolvimento de estratégias de enfrentamento e melhorar a retenção e a satisfação profissional, pesquisas acerca do sofrimento moral podem refletir positivamente na qualidade dos cuidados. / Moral distress is described as the feeling resulting from the impediment to an action considered morally appropriate, mainly due to institutional obstacles such as the lack of resources and the high workload. Main consequences are physical symptoms, such as malaise, crying and sleep disorders and psychological symptoms, such as frustration, impotence and guilt, as well as organizational implications, mainly related to withdrawal and abandonment of employment. Considering that the work context may influence the experience of morally problematic situations, the objective of these study was to analyze the phenomenon of moral distress among nurses in Brazil and in Portugal. It is a methodological research for development, searching for evidence of validity and refinement of a research instrument. The research started with the analysis of 38 studies for the construction of a scale to identify risk factors for moral distress. The search for evidence of validity included an analysis of judges, for content validation, and an exploratory factorial analysis, for construct validation, with a sample of 268 Brazilian nurses and 278 Portuguese nurses. The result was a scale with evidence of validity, Cronbachs Alpha of 0,913 and 0,790, Kaiser-Meyer Olkin test of 0,869 and 0,914 and a significant Bartlett (p <0,001). About 59,8% of the variance was explained by 30 items, divided into seven factors in the Brazilian version, and about 53,9% of the variance was explained by 20 items, divided into four factors in the Portuguese version. The experience of risk factors for moral distress was considered moderate in Brazil and low in Portugal. The variables that showed a significant association with the highest risk for moral distress in both countries were the type of work context, the hours of work, being in moral distress and having the intention to leave the current job. Research in the field of moral distress can, among other things, help in identifying the challenges and difficulties that most concern nurses in their work context. In order to contribute to the development of coping strategies and to improve professional retention and satisfaction, researches about moral distress may positively reflect on the quality of care.

Introdução: O assédio moral é um problema mundial, que afeta a qualidade de vida dos trabalhadores, alterando a saúde, e atingindo o ambiente no âmbito laboral e social, deteriorando o processo de trabalho e a produtividade. Objetivos: Identificar as características das denúncias sobre assédio moral encaminhadas ao Conselho Regional de Enfermagem do Estado de São Paulo, o perfil dos profissionais de enfermagem envolvidos, e os encaminhamentos das denúncias no período de 2011 a 2016. Método: Pesquisa de abordagem quantitativa, retrospectiva, exploratória e descritiva, a partir da análise documental nas denúncias sobre assédio moral. Os dados foram analisados, organizados e apresentados através de estatística descritiva, e na análise de variáveis foram observados os valores mínimos e máximos, o cálculo de desvio padrão, médias e medianas, e nas variáveis qualitativas foi calculada a frequência relativa e absoluta. Resultados: A idade média, sexo, e tempo de registro profissional dos denunciantes e denunciados foi de 42,34±10,69(42) e 42,08 ± 9,63 (43.50), 68,35%(feminino) e 75,27%(feminino), 13,5 ± 8,0 [13,5] e 18 ± 15,7 [18,5] respectivamente. As categorias profissionais predominantes nos denunciantes e denunciados foram Auxiliares de Enfermagem 46,83% e Enfermeiros 94,64% respectivamente. Dos Enfermeiros denunciados, 44,08% possuem ou possuíram inscrição como Técnicos e Auxiliares de Enfermagem. Dos profissionais de enfermagem denunciantes, 10,25% alegaram problemas de saúde, decorrentes do assédio moral. Em relação a qualidade das denúncias, 55% foram manuscritas e 48,72% vieram desprovidas de qualquer documento de comprovação. Conclusão: O estudo identificou características sócio demográficas de denunciantes e denunciados, e das denúncias por assédio moral, e seus encaminhamentos na Autarquia, tendo relevância nos âmbitos laboral, social e político da enfermagem, visando a proteção dos profissionais, e a diminuição da ocorrência do assédio moral. / Introduction: Bullying is a worldwide problem, which affects the quality of life of workers, changing health, and reaching the workplace and social environment, deteriorating the work process and productivity. Objective: Identify the characteristics of the reports about workplace harassment sent to Conselho Regional de Enfermagem de São Paulo, the profile of the nursing professionals involved, and the referrals of the denunciations in the Autarchy, from 2011 to 2016. Method: Quantitative, retrospective, exploratory and descriptive research, based on the documentary analysis of the allegations of workplace harassment. Data were analyzed, organized and presented through descriptive statistics, and in the analysis of variables the minimum and maximum values, the calculation of standard deviation, averages and medians, and the qualitative variables were calculated the relative and absolute frequency. Results: The mean age, sex, and professional registration time of whistleblowers and complainants was 42.34 ± 10.69 (42) and 42.08 ± 9.63 (43.50), 68.35% (female) and 75.27 % (female), 13.5 ± 8.0 [13.5] and 18 ± 15.7 [18.5] respectively. The predominant professional categories in the complainants and denounced were Nursing Assistants 46.83% and Nurses 94.64%, respectively. Of the denounced Nurses, 44.08% have or have registered as Technicians and Nursing Assistants. Of the denouncing nursing professionals, 10.25% claimed health problems due to bullying. Regarding the quality of the complaints, 55% were handwritten and 48.72% were deprived of any document of proof. Final Considerations: The study identified socio-demographic characteristics of whistleblowers and denounces, and denunciations of workplace harassment, and its referrals in the Autarchy, having relevance in the labor, social and political fields of nursing, aiming at the protection of professionals, and reducing the occurrence of bullying.

The highly complex role of the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) requires the refinement of a multitude of competencies and leadership skills in this unprecedented time of healthcare reform. As the senior most patient advocate in our medical centers the CNO is responsible for translating research into practice, policy development and implementation creating value based patient-centric strategies to transform health care. The ability to sustain and thrive in this role is essential in repositioning nursing as a knowledgeable discipline actively contributing to the redesign of healthcare. This exploratory descriptive phenomenological study was designed to explore and describe the elements that contribute to the sustainment of CNOs in their practice of nurse executive leadership. Ray’s (1989) Theory of Bureaucratic Caring, Authentic Leadership Theory (Wong & Cummings, 2009), and Resiliency Theory (Earvolino- Ramirez (2007) provided the theoretical lens through which this study was grounded. Semi-structured telephonic interviews were conducted with twenty CNOs all with two consecutive years experience in their current role. Six themes emerged after thorough content analysis which describes the lived experience of sustainment. Each theme was supported by several subthemes. Themes emerged as: Loving the Profession, Having a Broader Impact Reflecting on One’s Own Work, Learning to Manage Conflict, Maintaining Work/Life Balance Working with Supportive Leaders. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Introdução: As teorias do filósofo Rudolf Steiner, no início do século XX, aplicadas em várias áreas das ciências humanas, biológicas e exatas, trouxeram ao mundo ocidental uma nova cosmovisão do Ser Humano, a Antroposofia, que não trata apenas de antropologia, mas de uma ciência do Cosmo, tendo por centro e ponto de apoio, o homem. O cuidar antroposófico está embasado em teorias de enfermagem, como de Martha Rogers, que abordam o aspecto holístico do ser humano. O interesse de enfermeiros pela Antroposofia começou, no Brasil, na década de 1970, buscando fazer dela o fundamento para as formas complementares de terapia em enfermagem. A crescente influência da enfermagem antroposófica no desenvolvimento das ações integrais à saúde motivou este estudo. Objetivos: caracterizar enfermeiros que realizam atividades na enfermagem antroposófica; conhecer e compreender o significado e a vivência profissional de enfermeiros antroposóficos no Brasil; analisar atos normativos éticos e legais para a sua prática; desvelar o que os enfermeiros vislumbram para o futuro da enfermagem antroposófica; e, identificar dificuldades para o seu exercício. Metodologia: Estudo de natureza descritiva, exploratória, qualitativa e prospectiva com base nos conteúdos de entrevistas de nove enfermeiras. Referencial teórico: a fenomenologia social, de Alfred Schütz, fundamentou as categorias sobre os motivos porque e motivos para que. Resultados e discussão: Entre os motivos porque, quatro categorias condensam o interesse de enfermeiros pela antroposofia: 1) busca de novas perspectivas profissionais: algo diferente que oferecesse mais satisfação profissional; assistência de enfermagem espiritual; insatisfação com o paradigma alopático. 2) encontro com a antroposofia através da Filosofia, Medicina, Pedagogia e Enfermagem; 3) Metamorfoses decorrentes dos novos conhecimentos adquiridos: mudanças pessoais e profissionais na perspectiva do cuidar antroposófico; diferenças vivenciadas nos tratamentos alopático e antroposófico; vivências e relatos de experiências; 4) dilemas éticos e legais. As quatro categorias relacionadas aos motivos para que foram: 1) perspectivas para a enfermagem antroposófica no Brasil; 2) necessidade de incluir antroposofia na formação do enfermeiro generalista; 3) necessidade de cursos de especialização e pesquisa; 4) anseio de superação de dificuldades na prática antroposófica pelas enfermeiras. Considerações finais: este estudo demonstrou que a enfermagem antroposófica amplia o cuidar, aguça o olhar e ajuda o profissional a se tornar mais consciente na percepção do outro, a cuidar respeitando a individualidade do paciente, a direcionar a ação a todo e qualquer ser humano. Observa-se que pacientes graves, crônicos e oncológicos se beneficiam mais, talvez porque o olhar do enfermeiro antroposófico é mais holístico e individualizado. A Enfermagem Antroposófica atua também em situações do nascimento e da morte. Após o fechamento da Clínica Tobias, na década de 1990, profissionais ficaram sem referência, mas enfermeiros continuaram cultivando e praticando seus conhecimentos individualmente, embora almejassem criar uma organização formal, como associação, para discutirem problemas comuns e unirem forças; ter a Sistematização da Assistência de Enfermagem Antroposófica implantada em seus locais de trabalho; possibilitar que conceitos básicos de enfermagem antroposófica fossem inseridos nos programas dos cursos de graduação, e criados cursos de especialização / Background: The philosopher Rudolf Steiner theories, in the beginning of the XX Century, applied to various areas of the human, biological and exact sciences, have brought to the occidental world a new Cosmo vision of the human being, the Anthroposophy which is not only just anthropology, but a Cosmo science, having man as the center and supporting point. The Anthroposophical care is based on nursing theories, such as by Martha Rogers which has approached the holistic aspect of the human being. Nurses interest on Anthroposophy has started in Brazil, in the 1970s trying to make it the foundation for complementary therapies in nursing. The growing influence of Anthroposophical nursing for development of integral actions for health has motivated this study. Objectives: to characterize nurses who carry out anthropological nursing activities; to know and understand the meaning and professional experiences of anthropological nurses in Brazil; to analyze legal and ethical enactments for practicing it; to disclose what nurses see in relation to the future of the anthropological nursing; and to identify difficulties for its practice. Methodology: it is a descriptive, exploratory, qualitative and prospective study, based on contents of interviews given by nine nurses. Theoretical reference: the Alfred Schütz social phenomenology has founded the construction of the main categories on reasons why and reasons for what for. Results and discussion: Among reasons why, four categories have identified the nurses interest on anthroposophy: 1) search for new professional perspectives: something different that would offer better professional satisfaction, search for a nursing spiritual care; dissatisfaction with allopathic paradigm: 2) meeting Anthroposophy through philosophy, medicine, pedagogy and nursing. 3) Metamorphosis as a result of new knowledge: personal and professional changes within Anthroposophical care perspective; difficulties faced during treatments allopathic and Anthroposophical ones; reporting experiences lived by Anthroposophical nurses; 4) ethical and legal dilemmas. The four categories found within reasons for what for were: 1) perspectives for Anthroposophical nursing in Brazil; 2) need for inclusion of anthroposophy in nursing education programs at undergraduate level; 3) need of a specialization and research; 4) wish to overcome difficulties in the Anthroposophical practice by nurses. Final considerations: this study has showed that Anthroposophical nursing amplifies caring, sharpen the look and help professional to become more assertive to perceiving others, to care with more respect the patients individuality; and to guide actions toward any human being. It is observed that chronic, oncology or grave patients are better benefited, perhaps because the Anthroposophical nurses look is more holistic and individualized. Anthroposophical nursing is also active on birth and death situations. After closing down of the Tobias Clinic in the 1990s many professionals turned off reference, but nurses individually continued to cultivating and practicing their knowledge, even wishing to create a formal organization as an association to discuss common problems and unite forces; having Anthroposophical nursing care systematization implemented at their working places; making possible that basic concepts of Anthroposophical nursing be inserted at the undergraduate programs and specialty courses be created

Sedan flera hundra år tillbaka har människor immigrerat till Sverige. Efterhand har denna invandring mer och mer reglerats genom olika lagar och samarbeten. I Sverige har det så uppstått en grupp av personer som inte är asylsökande och som av olika skäl lever i landet utan uppehållstillstånd. En del av dessa har tidigare sökt asyl men fått avslag, medan andra aldrig sökt asyl. Dessa personer kan inte åtnjuta hälso- och sjukvård på samma villkor som den svenska befolkningen eller ens på de villkor som staten beslutat att asylsökande ska ha rätt till. Den vård gömda flyktingar har rätt till är den vård som klassas som omedelbar. Många gömda flyktingar är dessutom rädda för att söka vård och deras vårdbehov täcks till stor del av ideella organisationers insatser. Som sjuksköterska kan man komma att möta denna patientgrupp i stort sett var man än arbetar och det är då av största vikt att man funderat över sina etiska ställningstaganden och satt sig in i de lagar som är aktuella. I denna uppsats granskas och sammanställes den litteratur som finns att tillgå kring gömda flyktingar och sjukvård. Det sammanställda materialet diskuteras sedan ur en vårdvetenskaplig synvinkel och med hjälp av begreppen livsvärld, hälsa och lidande. Man kan i det valda materialet konstatera att det saknas litteratur skriven med vårdvetenskaplig ansats. I de åtta texterna som granskats har tre fokus hittats; Barns situation, Att leva som gömd flykting samt Hinder och möjligheter för tillgång till vård. Slutligen diskuteras vikten av vårdvetenskaplig forskning på området med mål att underlätta för kliniskt verksamma sjuksköterskor i mötet med denna patientgrupp. / <p>Program: Sjuksköterskeutbildning</p><p>Uppsatsnivå: C</p>

<p>The welfare of the elderly population is one of the most important goals of the public health services. At macro level the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare state that the premier goal is for elderly people to have dignified and comfortable lives. They should have a life with a sense of value and feel confident. These ethical values which are expressed on macro level or as normative ethics are expected to prevail at micro level. In our study the micro level is the caring encounter between the elderly patient, next of kin and nurses. Ethical values and morals are important aspects that influence the quality of care, videlicet in empiric ethics.</p><p>The aim of study (I) was to identify and describe the ethical values experienced by the older person in the daily interaction with nurses in a ward for older people during caring encounters. In study (II) the aim was to identify and describe the governing ethical values that next of kin experience in interaction with nurses who care for elderly patients at a geriatric clinic. Study (I) which was an empirical observational study included follow-up interviews. Twenty-two older people participated voluntarily. In study (II) interviews with fourteen next of kin were conducted. In both studies Constant comparative analysis, the core foundation of grounded theory was used.</p><p>Five categories; Being addressed, receiving respect, desiring to participate, increasing self-determination and gaining self-confidence formed the basis for the core category in study (I): Approaching. Approaching concerns the way people become closer to each other in a physical space .It also includes how people become closer to each other in a dialogue, which involves verbal or bodily communication. Approaching indicates the ethical values that guide nurses in their caring encounters with older people. This ethical value is noted by the older person and has an individual value, as well as leading to improved quality of their care. The older person will be confident and satisfied with the caring encounter if the desired components in the nurse’s approaching are exhibited.</p><p>Four categories were identified in study (II): Receiving, showing respect, facilitating participation and showing professionalism. These categories formed the basis of the core category: “Being amenable”, a concept identified in the next of kin’s description of the ethical values that they and the elderly patients perceive in the caring encounter. Being amenable means that the nurses are guided by ethical values; taking into account the elderly patient and next of kin. Nurses who focus on elderly patients’ well-being as a final principle will affect next of kin and their experience of this fundamental situation.</p>

The welfare of the elderly population is one of the most important goals of the public health services. At macro level the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare state that the premier goal is for elderly people to have dignified and comfortable lives. They should have a life with a sense of value and feel confident. These ethical values which are expressed on macro level or as normative ethics are expected to prevail at micro level. In our study the micro level is the caring encounter between the elderly patient, next of kin and nurses. Ethical values and morals are important aspects that influence the quality of care, videlicet in empiric ethics. The aim of study (I) was to identify and describe the ethical values experienced by the older person in the daily interaction with nurses in a ward for older people during caring encounters. In study (II) the aim was to identify and describe the governing ethical values that next of kin experience in interaction with nurses who care for elderly patients at a geriatric clinic. Study (I) which was an empirical observational study included follow-up interviews. Twenty-two older people participated voluntarily. In study (II) interviews with fourteen next of kin were conducted. In both studies Constant comparative analysis, the core foundation of grounded theory was used. Five categories; Being addressed, receiving respect, desiring to participate, increasing self-determination and gaining self-confidence formed the basis for the core category in study (I): Approaching. Approaching concerns the way people become closer to each other in a physical space .It also includes how people become closer to each other in a dialogue, which involves verbal or bodily communication. Approaching indicates the ethical values that guide nurses in their caring encounters with older people. This ethical value is noted by the older person and has an individual value, as well as leading to improved quality of their care. The older person will be confident and satisfied with the caring encounter if the desired components in the nurse’s approaching are exhibited. Four categories were identified in study (II): Receiving, showing respect, facilitating participation and showing professionalism. These categories formed the basis of the core category: “Being amenable”, a concept identified in the next of kin’s description of the ethical values that they and the elderly patients perceive in the caring encounter. Being amenable means that the nurses are guided by ethical values; taking into account the elderly patient and next of kin. Nurses who focus on elderly patients’ well-being as a final principle will affect next of kin and their experience of this fundamental situation.

The study explored moral and ethical dilemmas experienced by Black nurses in a local community clinic. In particular, it examined the influences of the concept of self or personhood in nurses' ethical and moral decision-making. Influences of culture and family on morality were also investigated. Using the interview methodology developed by Gilligan (1982), nurses were asked to tell stories involving moral dilemmas in their work. Interviews were analysed using the voicecentred relational method. This method involves reading the interview narratives a number of times, each reading focusing on a particular aspect of a respondent's narrative. Results show that nurses often find themselves caught between two opposing moral and ethical viewpoints in their practices. On the one hand are hospital procedures, which are informed by universalist approaches to the person and the moral. From these are derived ethical principles emphasizing individual autonomy and choice. On the other hand, the majority of patients subscribe to a communal view . ofpersonhood. From this perspective, to be moral entails knowing one's position and responsibilities within family and community. Dilemmas arose from nurses' identification with patients' moral perspectives while realizing that this could lead to "unethical" conduct, (given , their training and current codes of ethics). It is recommended that moral and ethical deiiberations should dialogue with alternative, marginalised, viewpoints, in order to be culturally responsive. It is further recommended that ethics be conceptualised as a practical-moral engagement, rather than a detached application of knowledge. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2000.