The process ethics as regards nursing management in palliative care

DOI: 10.15343/0104-7809.200630.2.13

Abstract

The present work is a reflexive-argumentative study that deals with some questions related to palliative care, having as its
basis management as regards work relations and nursing actions facing ethical dilemmas. Ethics is understood in this work as a reflec-
tion, a questioning on lived experience in nursing day-to-day activities, and it includes conscience, ability and responsibility character.
When managing the nursing service the nurse must take the responsibility for actions before ethical dilemmas linked to palliative care,
and in this study we discuss how Process Ethics must be perceived in nursing management. The study presents some reflections on the
existence of different conceptions on palliative care; the necessity to rethink nursing practices in palliative care with an emphasis in
pain; the necessity the team has of preparation and support as regards the patient non-physical care; nurses obligation to learn how to
act ethically respecting the patient rights. Thus, we consider that ethical dilemmas must be solved and supported by the Process Ethics,
something what implies a re-signification of the way nurses to manage this care as regards nursing actions. This requires nurses, when
planning assistance, to consider the ethical reflection as an instrument of management, rethinking the practices in the context of work
relations and having as a goal quality in palliative cares.