Ethical Issues in Nursing Research

1
Ethical Issues in Nursing Research

• What does this have to do with us?

2
Medical and Nursing Research

• Escalating at rapid pace
• Globalization means more international multi-site
  studies

3
History of Abuses

• Nazi experiments 1930s and 40s
• Tuskegee syphilis study, 1932-1972

4
Ethical Review Boards

• Role is to
• Ensure informed consent
• Guard against exploitation of vulnerable people
• Ensure that risks are minimized

5
Ethical Review Boards

• Primarily University-centered
• What about private research?

6
Roles for Nurses in Research Ethics

• Nurse as care provider
• Obligation to maintain rights and
  responsibilities to patients
• Advocacy role
• Also important to facilitate research
• Research potential source of moral distress

7
Roles for Nurses in Research Ethics

• Nurses as Research Assistants or Coordinators
• Informed consent
• Determining competency
• Need to weigh benefits and burdens

8
Nurses as Researchers

• Vulnerable Clients
• Role conflicts
• Process consent