Woods, M. (2001). Balancing rights and duties in 'life and death' decision making involving children: A role for nurses? Nursing Ethics, 8(5), 397–408.
Abstract: This article examines a growing number of cases in New Zealand in which parents and guardians are required to make life and death ethical decisions on behalf of their seriously ill child. Increasingly, nurses and other practitioners are expected to more closely inform, involve and support the rights of parents or guardians in such situations. Differing moral and ethical values between the medical team and parents or guardians can lead to difficult decision making situations. The article analyses the moral parameters, processes, outcomes and ethical responses that must be considered when life and death ethical decisions involving children are made. It concludes with a recommendation that nurses should be recognised as perhaps the most suitable of all health care personnel when careful mediation is needed to produce an acceptable moral outcome in difficult ethical situations.
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Woods, M. (1999). A nursing ethic: The moral voice of experienced nurses. Nursing Ethics, 6(5), 423–433.
Abstract: This article presents discussion on some of the main findings of a recently completed study on nursing ethics in New Zealand. An interpretation of a nurse's story taken from the study is offered and suggestions are made for nursing ethics education.
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Litchfield, M. (1994). Viewpoint: Telling nursing stories. Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand, 2(4), 28.
Abstract: A brief critique and comment on the ethical implications of nurse researchers using methodology that involves soliciting personal experiences of patients and subsequently publishing them as stories.
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Harding, T. (2013). Cultural safety : a vital element for nursing ethics. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 29(1), 4–11.
Abstract: Argues that the globalisation of nursing and the internationalisation of nursing education potentially leads to the values underpinning nursing curricula coming into conflict with those of other cultures. Suggests the need to examine the values inherent in ethics education in nursing, proposing that cultural safety is incorporated into it in an increasingly multi-cultural nursing environment.
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Song, J. (2018). Ethics education in nursing: challenges for nurse educators. Kai Tiaki Nursing Research, 9(1), 12–17.
Abstract: Explores the experiences of a group of nurse educators responsible for teaching ethics to undergraduate nursing students. Discusses the ethical challenges they encounter in their classroom practice. Employs a case study approach to explore the experiences of seven educators working at a large tertiary institution. Interviews them to ascertain the challenges they face in teaching ethics to nursing students, and how best to overcome them.
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Cleary, H. (2001). Caring and bioethics: Perspectives, predicaments and possibilities. Ph.D. thesis, , .
Abstract: This thesis presents an explorative study of the place of caring in bioethics. Through the examination of various sources of literature from the disciplines of nursing, feminist theory and ethics, and bioethics, a case is developed that argues for a valid respected place for caring, as an ethic of care in bioethical decision-making. The case is built by providing evidence to support the fundamental importance of caring to human life, health, relationships, and survival at the broad societal level. This is presented from the feminist and nursing perspectives, along with a critique of the negative aspects of caring practices. The next stage of the case presents a layout of the discipline of bioethics, using an historical perspective to illuminate the influences of bioethics' deep past, as it still affects the discipline in the present. The development of contemporary bioethics' current status is presented along with critiques from bioethicists themselves, and nursing and feminist theory and ethics. In the case at this point, from a bioethical perspective, two major predicaments appear to prevent an ethic of care obtaining a valid place in ethical decision-making in bioethics. These are the justice/care duality, and the conflict between different conceptions of care and autonomy. The bioethical objections and arguments put forward regarding these predicaments are examined and refuted, and the author suggests a case is established for the inclusion of an ethic of care in bioethical decision-making.
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McClunie-Trust, P. (2000). Body boundaries and discursive practices in life threatening illness: Narratives of the self. Ph.D. thesis, , .
Abstract: This thesis tells a story from within and between the boundaries of my professional work as a nurse and my private life as the wife of a patient with life threatening illness. The events related in the thesis are told using a technique I have called writing back to myself, where my own journals and stories of the experience of living with life threatening illness provide data for analysis. The reader is invited to participate in these representations and to consider the potential for the skilful practice of nursing which may be read in the stories, and the analysis I have developed from them. I have developed the theoretical and methodological positionings for the thesis from the work of Foucault (1975,1979,1982,1988), Deleuze (1988), Ellis (1995), Richardson (1998) and other writers who utilise genealogical or narrative approaches. The analysis of my own stories in the thesis explores the philosophical and contextual positionings of the nurse as a knowledge worker through genealogies of practice and the specific intellectual work of the nurse. Local and contextual epistemologies are considered as ways of theorising nursing practice through personal knowledge, which is surfaced through the critical analysis of contextual positionings and the process of writing as inquiry.
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Lewis, T. (2005). Euthanasia: A Foucauldian analysis. Ph.D. thesis, , .
Abstract: This study drew upon the theoretical insights of Michel Foucault to provide a discursive analysis of the term euthanasia, and the issues surrounding the “right-to-die”. It involved an analysis of primary texts from; nursing, general, and legal literature as well as the media between the years 2002-2004. Drawing upon data researched, the study analyses the main discourses regarding the practice of euthanasia for terminally ill individuals. The two competing discourses that emerged were what the author termed the sanctity-of life-discourse and the right-to-die discourse. The aim of the study was to uncover the discourses understanding of “truth” regarding the right-to-die. The analysis revealed that a small percentage of cancer sufferers (5%) die with their pain insufficiently treated and the right-to-die discourse claims that no individual should have to suffer needlessly, asserting the individuals right to autonomy. Directly opposing this is the sanctity-of life-discourse which states all life is sacred and nothing can justify euthanasia as an acceptable practice in society. These findings indicate the need for effective palliative care and pain management when caring for the terminally ill individual. The legal, ethical and moral implications of euthanasia are many and this study discusses the effects these may have on health professionals involved with the care of terminally ill patients. The study revealed an increasing deployment of the right-to-die discourse in the media and revealed concerns regarding the nursing profession's lack of preparation to deal with euthanasia if it becomes a legal option in end of life care.
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Johns, S. (2004). Being constrained and enabled: A study of pre-registration nursing students ethical practice. Ph.D. thesis, , .
Abstract: This study uncovers the experience of being ethical from the perspective of pre-registration nursing students. Using the qualitative methodology of phenomenology, specifically that outlined by van Manen, it seeks to show how students act ethically within everyday practice. Providing nursing care is an ethically charged undertaking and despite ethics taking an increasingly important place in nursing education, the author suggests that few studies show the contextual nature of ethical practice from the perspective of students. This study aims to partly redress this situation. In this study the author has interpreted the experiences of twelve pre-registration students. Using seventeen stories shared by the student participants, the author's personal understandings and literature, the meaning of being ethical has been illuminated. Three themes emerged from the interpretation. These include 'keeping things 'nice'', 'being true to yourself' and 'being present'. This thesis asserts that the overarching theme within these themes is that of 'being constrained and enabled'. Being constrained shows the experiences of students as they live through the tensions of being and doing as they strive to be ethical. Being enabled shows the experience of self-determination. Finally the study maintains that the shaping of ethical practice for undergraduate students may be enhanced when their reality is positioned and valued within educational processes.
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Carter, L. J. (2010). Am I doing the right thing?: Plunket Nurses' experience in making decisions to report suspected child abuse and neglect. Master's thesis, Waikato Institute of Technology, Hamilton.
Abstract: Studies the experiences of Plunket Nurses reporting suspected child abuse and/or neglect in uncertain situations, using hermeneutic phenomenology. Selects a purposeful sample to ensure participants could provide rich data through semi-structured, face-to-face and recorded telephone interviews. Guides data analysis using the framework developed by van Manen to formulate meaning from participant experiences.
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Thompson, R. (2008). On call but not rostered. In Jean Ross (Ed.), Rural nursing: Aspects of practice (pp. 67-78). [Dunedin]: Rural Health Opportunities.
Abstract: In this chapter the author uses storytelling to explore the legal and ethical issues she experiences as a rural volunteer registered nurse. She describes the relationship between the nurse and community embodied in areas such as the public perception of nurses, and discusses aspects of her practice in the light of the particular legal and ethical context of rural areas.
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Song, W. J. (2017). Teaching Ethics in Nursing Education – A case study of teaching in a New Zealand tertiary education context. Master's thesis, University of Waikato, .
Abstract: Explores what experiences and challenges nursing educators face teaching ethics content and identifies the difficulties encountered in classroom practice. Interviews a self-selecting sample of 7 nursing educators working at a large NZ tertiary institution in the North Island. Outlines the seven dominant themes to emerge from the inductive data analysis process.
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Butters, K. J. (2008). A qualitative study of the ethical practice of newly-graduated nurses working in mental health. Master's thesis, Massey University, .
Abstract: Presents a qualitative exploration of factors that influence eight newly-graduated nurses as they endeavour to practice ethical mental health nursing. Gathers data from in-depth interviews with the participants, analysed using a thematic analysis method. Considers aspects of the social and political context within which the participants are situated.
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