Changing values for nursing and health promotion: exploring the policy context of professional ethics.
In this article we illustrate, and argue for, the importance of researching the social context of health professionals' ethical agendas and concerns. We draw upon qualitative interview data from 20 nurses working in two occupational health sites, and our discussion focuses mainly upon aspects of the shifting 'ethical context' for those nurses with a health promotion remit who are working in the British National Health Service. Within this discussion we also raise a number of potentially substantive issues, including the risks of colluding in 'double standards', and the tensions between the practitioner and managerial roles in nursing. Overall, we hope to pose questions about the best ways to understand the ethical agency and responsibilities of health professionals.
Molloy
J
J
Royal College of Nursing Institute, London, UK.
Cribb
A
A
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D028661:Complicity; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D006291:Health Policy / Q000639:trends*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009729:Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology*; D009785:Occupational Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D015279:Organizational Culture; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012106:Research; D040841:Resource Allocation; D012941:Social Responsibility; D012945:Social Values; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires