The influence of conscience in nursing.
The influence of conscience on nurses in terms of guilt has frequently been described but its impact on care has received less attention. The aim of this study was to describe nurses' conceptions of the influence of conscience on the provision of inpatient care. The study employed a phenomenographic approach and analysis method. Fifteen nurses from three hospitals in western Sweden were interviewed. The results showed that these nurses considered conscience to be an important factor in the exercise of their profession, as revealed by the descriptive categories: conscience as a driving force; conscience as a restricting factor; and conscience as a source of sensitivity. They perceived that conscience played a role in nursing actions involving patients and next of kin, and was an asset that guided them in their efforts to provide high quality care.
Jensen
Annika
A
School of Social and Health Sciences, Halmstad University, Campus Varberg, HOS, 432 80 Varberg, Sweden. annika.jensen@hh.se
Lidell
Evy
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003242:Conscience; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D028681:Moral Obligations; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000941:ethics*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000941:ethics*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000941:ethics; D013548:Sweden