title: Validity of the Italian Code of Ethics for everyday nursing practice.
abstract: The research question for this study was as follows: Is the Code of Ethics for Nurses in Italy (Code) a valid or useful decision-making instrument for nurses faced with ethical problems in their daily clinical practice?
  Focus groups were conducted to analyze specific ethical problems through 11 case studies. The analysis was conducted using sections of the Code as well as other relevant documents. Each focus group had a specific theme and nurses participated freely in the discussions according to their respective clinical competencies.
  The executive administrative committee of the local nursing licensing council provided approval for conducting this project. Measures were taken to protect the confidentiality of consenting participants.
  The answer to the research question posed for this investigation was predominantly positive. Many sections of the Code were useful for discussion and identifying possible solutions for the ethical problems presented in the 11 cases.
  We concluded that the Code of Ethics for Nurses in Italy can be a valuable aid in daily practice in most clinical situations that can give rise to ethical problems.
authors.affiliation: Agenzia di Tutela della Salute della Brianza, Monza, Italy; Collegio IPASVI Milano-Lodi-Monza e Brianza, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gobbi
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Castoldi
authors.affiliation: Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Ovest Milanese, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosa Anna
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Alagna
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brunoldi
authors.affiliation: Istituto Europeo di Oncologia, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pari
authors.affiliation: Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Grande Ospedale Metropolitano, Italy.
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.affiliation: Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Italy; Collegio IPASVI Milano-Lodi-Monza e Brianza, Italy.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Magri
authors.affiliation: Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale San Carlo e San Paolo, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marioni
authors.affiliation: Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Italy; Collegio IPASVI Milano-Lodi-Monza e Brianza, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Muttillo
authors.affiliation: Istituto Europeo di Oncologia, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Passoni
authors.affiliation: Collegio IPASVI Milano-Lodi-Monza e Brianza, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna La
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torre
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Italy.
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.affiliation: McGill University, Canada.
authors.forename: Franco A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Carnevale
mesh_terms: D032781:Codes of Ethics; D003657:Decision Making / Q000941:ethics*; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
keywords: Code of Ethics; Italy; ethics; nursing