title: Solving work-related ethical problems.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nurse managers are responsible for solving work-related ethical problems to promote a positive ethical culture in healthcare organizations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to describe the activities that nurse managers use to solve work-related ethical problems. The ultimate aim was to enhance the ethical awareness of all nurse managers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data for this descriptive cross-sectional survey were analyzed through inductive content analysis and quantification. Participants and research context: The data were collected in 2011 using a questionnaire that included an open-ended question and background factors. Participants were nurse managers working in Finnish healthcare organizations (n = 122). Ethical considerations: Permission for the study was given by the Finnish Association of Academic Managers and Experts of Health Sciences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nurse managers identified a variety of activities they use to solve work-related ethical problems: discussion (30%), cooperation (25%), work organization (17%), intervention (10%), personal values (9%), operational models (4%), statistics and feedback (4%), and personal examples (1%). However, these activities did not follow any common or systematic model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the future, nurse managers need a more systematic approach to solve ethical problems. It is important to establish new kinds of ethics structures in organizations, such as a common, systematic ethical decision-making model and an ethics club for nurse manager problems, to support nurse managers in solving work-related ethical problems.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laukkanen
authors.affiliation: University of Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Riitta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Suhonen
authors.affiliation: University of Turku, Finland; Turku University Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leino-Kilpi
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making / Q000941:ethics*; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000941:ethics*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Ethical problems; ethics structures; nurse managers; solving ethical problems; work-related ethical problems