Ethical principles in the work of nurse educator


“It is a nurse educators responsibility to teach ethical competence to students, while the nurse educator’s own behaviour towards students must likewise be ethical”.  Ethical principles is the topic of this paper by Salminen et al (2016). The authors discuss the learning and application of ethical principles within the teaching and nursing realm are core to professional ethics. Distinguishing between professional and ethical issues in a nurse educators’ work is often difficult as the role includes facilitating and guiding learners to ensure professional nursing practice and quality teaching. They also need to have skills in identifying ethical issues and the courage and will to discuss this issues with students.

Nurse educators also interact with colleagues, mentors and organisations that may raise ethical dimensions within the practice of nurse education. These authors discuss the situation in Finland which is different to Australia, nevertheless there are aspects that are similar.  The purpose of this study was to investigate what ethical principles guide nurse educators and what ethical issues do nurse educators face in their work?  Data was collected via online survey which had responses from 340 nurse educators and 202 student nurses in their final semester of study. This paper summarises the ethical principles mentioned by nurse educators and students and also ethical issues in nurse educators work from the perspective of nursing students and educators. Of the 600 ethical principles mentioned by nurse educators justice, equality and honesty were most frequently cited.  Nursing students indicated professionalism; justice and equality were the most important of the 150 they reported. When students were asked to comment on issues in nurse educators work they reported educators lack of respect to students; lack of equality to and lack of appreciation of students’ opinions.  Nurse educators reported lack of respect by students towards students; lack of respect towards educators; problems associated with student individuality, equality and justice and student problems with honesty. Collegiality was the least mentioned ethical principle among nurse educators. The findings of this study can be used in the development of ethics education for nurse educators and for continuing professional development. Nurse supervisors need to be be aware of their own ethical principles and have adequate skills to identify and and solve ethical issues in their work and with students.

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