Nursing Ethics Committee: Opinions of Nurse Administrators and Staff Nurses in the University Hospitals, Thailand

Abstract

The descriptive study aimed to examine and compare the opinions toward components, qualification and functions of the nursing ethics committee between administrative and staff nurses. The sample comprised of two groups: 251 administrative nurses and 251 staff nurses, working in University Hospitals obtained by systematic random sampling. Data were collected using questionnaires. The questionnaires consisted of demographic data and opinions toward the components, qualifications, and functions of the nursing ethics committee. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, chi-square and independent t- test.

Results showed that there was no statistically significant differences between administrative and staff nurses’ opinions of the nursing ethics committee members. They should consist of specialist nurses, advanced practice nurses, staff nurses, and ethicists. Howwer, there was a significant difference towards lawyer and physicion members. The top-three qualifications of the nursing ethics committee were maintaining justice, being ethical role model, committing ethical practices, and there was no statistically significant difference between administrative and staff nurses (p > 0.05). The five functions of the nursing ethics committee were specify policy of ethical nursing, provide ethical knowledge, be information resources of ethics in nursing, provide ethical consultation, and conduct ethics researches. There was no statistically significant difference among administrative and staff nurses (p > 0.05) except conducting ethical researches.

It was suggested that Nursing Ethical Committee (NEC) should mainly consist of nurses with a clear qualifications and functions, as well as well-trained in skills and knowledge, to be able to funetion effcetively. Administrative and staff nurses should participate in meeting, training, and seminar focus on nursing ethics, ethical decision and law. Nursing ethic topic should be included in the orientation course for new nurses. There was a need to provide knowledge of NEC over the country.