Priority ethical issues in oncology nursing: current approaches and future directions
Ersek, M.; Scanlon, C.; Glass, E.; Ferrell, B.R.; Steeves, R.
Oncology Nursing Forum 22(5): 803-807
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0190-535X PMID: 7675687 Document Number: 452797
To describe ethical issues determined to be highly important to oncology nurses and to discuss strategies by which the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) can address these priority concerns. Survey on oncology nurses regarding ethical issues; nursing literature. Nine priority ethical issues of oncology nurses are identified. Past, current, and future ONS activities that address these priority issues are discussed. ONS must support activities to increase the knowledge, confidence, and involvement of oncology nurses in discussions and decision making related to the ethical issues. The top three priority ethical issues for oncology nurses are assisted suicide, end-of-life decisions, and pain management. Efforts should be made to increase ethics expertise among the ONS membership.