Barriers to innovation: nurses' risk appraisal in using a new ethics screening and early intervention tool

We developed and assessed feasibility of an Ethics Screening and Early Intervention Tool that identifies at-risk clinical situations and prompts early actions to mitigate conflict and moral distress. Despite intensive care unit and oncology nurses' reports of tool benefits, they noted some risk...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inAdvances in nursing science Vol. 36; no. 4; p. 304
Main Authors Pavlish, Carol L, Hellyer, Joan Henriksen, Brown-Saltzman, Katherine, Miers, Anne G, Squire, Karina
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.10.2013
Subjects
Attitude of Health Personnel
Communication Barriers
Ethics, Nursing
Feasibility Studies
Focus Groups
Humans
Intensive Care Units
Models, Theoretical
Morals
Nursing Staff, Hospital - ethics
Nursing Staff, Hospital - psychology
Oncology Service, Hospital
Organizational Culture
Physician-Nurse Relations
Qualitative Research
Risk Assessment
Surveys and Questionnaires
Terminal Care - ethics
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:We developed and assessed feasibility of an Ethics Screening and Early Intervention Tool that identifies at-risk clinical situations and prompts early actions to mitigate conflict and moral distress. Despite intensive care unit and oncology nurses' reports of tool benefits, they noted some risk to themselves when initiating follow-up actions. The riskiest actions were discussing ethical concerns with physicians, calling for ethics consultation, and initiating patient conversations. When discussing why initiating action was risky, participants revealed themes such as "being the troublemaker" and "questioning myself." To improve patient care and teamwork, all members of the health care team need to feel safe in raising ethics-related questions.
ISSN:1550-5014
DOI:10.1097/ANS.0000000000000004