J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs.  2016 Dec;25(4):418-429. 10.12934/jkpmhn.2016.25.4.418.

Ethical Problems Experienced by Community Mental Health Nurses in Korea

• Kim HJ

• KMID: 2365430
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12934/jkpmhn.2016.25.4.418

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to explore ethical problems that cause moral distress in nurses and affects the quality of care provided by community mental health nurses working in community mental health settings.
METHODS
Three focus group interviews were held with 14 nurses working in 3 community mental health centers in Korea. Qualitative descriptive methods and qualitative content analysis were used.
RESULTS
Data analysis found 5 domains (decision making, communication, resources, safety, advocacy), 9 categories (personal information sharing issues, ethical insensibility, collisions between principles and practice, institutions unprepared in ethical problems, ethical dilemma in interactions with clients, problems with the evaluation system, problems with the budget structure, problems with the lack of safety measure, and problems with role limitation as a professional) and 11 subcategories.
CONCLUSION
Results of this study suggest a) a need for further research on identifying ethical conflicts arising in community mental health fields, and b) on what nurses actually do when they deal with ethical conflicts, c) efforts to develop ethics support programs such as ethics education, training and reflection meetings to enhance nurses' ethical sensitivity, d) consideration of a supportive environment and culture that prioritizes ethical concerns in practitioners as well as administrators.

Keyword

Ethics; Nursing; Community; Mental health services; Qualitative research

MeSH Terms

Administrative Personnel
Budgets
Community Mental Health Centers
Education
Ethics
Focus Groups
Humans
Information Dissemination
Korea*
Mental Health Services
Mental Health*
Nursing
Qualitative Research
Statistics as Topic

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