Community nurses' experiences of ethical dilemmas in palliative care: a Swedish study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to highlight community nurses' experiences of ethical dilemmas in palliative care.


BACKGROUND
There are many studies on palliative care but research on how community nurses experience ethical dilemmas in palliative home care is lacking. The ethical dilemmas to which these nurses are exposed seriously challenge their ethical competence.


METHODS
Seven community nurses described their experiences of ethical dilemmas in palliative home care. The data was analysed by means of qualitative content analysis.


RESULTS
The core themes that emerged were: powerlessness, frustration, and concern in relation to ethical dilemmas in palliative care. The nurses were motivated and felt responsibility for their patients' end of life, and their relatives, and took their duties seriously. They wanted to satisfy all parties; the patient, the relatives and other palliative care professionals.


CONCLUSIONS
The study confirms the need for knowledge about how community nurses experience dilemmas in ethical decision-making. They have the freedom to act and the willingness to make decisions, but they lack competence and knowledge about how their colleagues' experience and deal with such issues.
Karlsson
Margareta
M
Department of Nursing, Health and Culture, University West,Trollhättan, Sweden.
Roxberg
Asa
A
da Silva
António Barbosa
AB
Berggren
Ingela
I
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000941:ethics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003657:Decision Making / Q000941:ethics; D005260:Female; D005639:Frustration; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000941:ethics / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D016294:Models, Nursing; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000941:ethics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000941:ethics* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000941:ethics; D011209:Power, Psychological; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013548:Sweden