Problemas éticos na experiência clínica hospitalar de estudantes e profissionais de enfermagem

Knowing how to identify them and seeking prudent solutions is essential to promoting ethical and safe care. Objective : To know the experiences and understanding of nursing students and professionals regard- ing ethical issues and decision-making in hospital nursing practice. Methodology : Qualitative, exploratory-descriptive research was carried out with thirty undergradu- ate nursing students and twenty nursing professionals from a University Hospital in Southern Brazil. Data were collected through two questionnaires containing open questions and submitted to Discur- sive Textual Analysis. Results : Students perceive the ethical problem based on concrete experiences of disrespect and insult to principles and rules. Professionals conceptualize it as a challenge to judgment in the complex boundaries between right and wrong. The experiences and decision-making share similarities and have their specificities. Conclusion : Students and professionals display moral sensitivity to understand the ethical problems of practice; critical awareness and reflection are crucial to identifying and responding to workplace ethical conflicts.