Nursing Students’ Perception of Ethical Dilemmas in the Ward

Abstract

       Nursing practice in ward of nursing students has been considered as a learning experience based on actual conditions of the patient and related environments in medical treatments. Once students encounter events concerning ethical dilemmas and are able to interpret or identify certain contradictions, it will lead them to ethical decision-making process. The situations will later be solved. Meanwhile, if students are unaware of ethical-related situations or able to perceive without an ability to solve the conflicts, the problems might have been elevated. Ethical dilemmas that students conceivably encounter during nursing practice include veracity/truth-telling, confidentiality, life and death with dignity, beneficence, non-maleficence/doing no harm, knowledge and skills, and interaction and communication with patients.
             Teaching ethics in nursing of bachelor program is crucial to increase awareness or ethical sensitivity development, including ethical decision making skills of nursing students. Teaching pedagogy should concern a variety of methods regarding levels of students, in both theory and practice courses. A concept of transformative learning is applied to reflect ethical dilemmas that can be occurred during patient-health team contacts. This is to encourage an ability to use ethical decision-making process among students. It is also a preparation for future registered nurses.