Ethical Attitudes of Intensive Care Nurses during Clinical Practice and Affecting Factors

BACKGROUND: Technological advances in critical care contribute to patient survival, but healthcare professionals working in these units, which require technical expertise, experience highly challenging ethical decision-making processes. AIM: The aim of this study is to determine the attitudes of intensive care nurses toward ethical problems they face during clinical practice and the affecting factors. METHOD: The study included a total of 294 nurses working in the intensive care units at a city hospital. Data was collected using the Personal Information Form and Ethical Attitude Scale for Nursing Care. FINDINGS: About 58.8% of the participants were females and 71.1% had undergraduate degrees. The total scale score was 56.48 ± 15.98. A statistically significant difference was found between participants’ gender, weekly working hours, ethical definition status, and scale score averages. CONCLUSION: More than half experienced frequent ethical problems and tried to solve them on their own. Trainings aimed at developing ethical sensitivity and participation in symposiums/conferences that address ethical issues specific to intensive care are recommended. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Işik MT, Özdemir RC, Serinkaya D. Ethical Attitudes of Intensive Care Nurses during Clinical Practice and Affecting Factors. Indian J Crit Care Med 2022;26(3):288-293.