Ethical problems experienced by stoma and wound care nurses: A qualitative study

It is known that the stoma and wound care nurses experience ethical problems in different issues in their relationships with patients, colleagues, physicians, the institution they work in and industry representatives they have communication with. This study was conducted qualitatively to determine the ethical issues experienced by stoma and wound care nurses. The study was conducted with the participation of 20 volunteer nurses who actively care for stoma and wound, and who are members the Association of Wound Ostomy Incontinence Nurses. In order to conduct the study, the ethics committee approval from the Koç University Social Research Ethics Committee, official permission from the Wound Ostomy Incontinence Nurses Association and informed consent from the participants were obtained. The data were obtained between the dates of October, 2019 and August, 2020 by using the individual in-depth interview using a semi-structured interview form. The interview data were deciphered, stored in the computer environment and evaluated by thematic analysis method. The data obtained from the individual in-depth interviews were grouped by forming the main themes of "ethical dilemmas" and "moral uncertainties" under the context of "ethical problems experienced". Themes and sub-themes towards the ethical issues of stoma and wound care nurses experienced in their relations with patients, nurses, physicians, institution and industry representatives were created under the main theme. It has been determined in the study that stoma and wound care nurses, in relation to "ethical dilemmas" and "moral uncertainties", had difficulties in the ethical decision-making, and in the ethical issues in their relationships with patients, colleagues, physicians, institution and industry representatives. It is recommended to do planning towards the development and implementation of ethics education programs including ethical problem solving models that will guide nurses in solving ethical problems experienced by stoma and wound care nurses.