What if the Nurse Has an Ethical Conflict With the Research Study?
Nurses are not morally obligated to cooperate in experimental procedures about which they have ethical concerns. Indeed, they may have an ethical obligation to refuse to participate in such activities and to bring their concerns to the attention of others who can assist the patient and review the appropriateness of the research activity. Personal consequences may exist for both reporting and not reporting perceived ethical injustices. Individuals perceived as interfering with another’s project may be ostracized, harassed, or even fired. However, the personal consequences of not reporting conduct that violates one’s ethical principles may be unacceptable to the nurse and to the profession. 16. What Obligations Do Nurse Executives Have in Addressing Nursing Concerns about Critical Care Research? Nurse Executives should exhibit leadership in developing a multidisciplinary peer review research board if none is established. Nurse Executives should support the inclusion of at least one profe
