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Nurses' Role
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"Interestingly, in an age where �ethical and professional cooperation seek to guide nurses in their decision making� (Clarke, 1999, p.42) the question of �whether to assist or withdraw from an abortion is by means the most common or even difficult ethical issue that nurses have to confront�(p.36).In view of this, the potential role of the nurse is to maintain both physical comfort, provide nonjudgmental, and supportive care is necessary when deciding to take a position in where abortion is performed.  The nurse is [then] responsible, legally and morally, for ensuring that patients� needs are met and that patients are not neglected because of differing values (Curtin, 1982 as cited in Kerr & MacPhail ,1996, p.32-33).Unfortunately, in Marshal et al.�s article(1994), it indicates nurses involvement with TOP is extremely stressful (Char & McDermott, 1972; Hurwitz & Eadie, 1977; Allen, 1985, p.568) that participating in this emotionally charged procedure/situation can take a toll on their well-being, and can �potentially cause the nurses significant psychological trauma�(Huntington, 2002, p.274). As a result, research suggested �that women undergoing TOP do not always receive the supportive and non-judgmental care that they would like�(The Lane Committee, 1974, Clarke et al., 1983, as cited in Marshall, Gould & Roberts, 1994, p.567) because the nurses� negative attitudes expressed either on a verbal or non-verbal level may discourage or turn away�women deciding to terminate their pregnancy (Marshall et al., 1994; Popoff, 1975). Sadly, enough it is the source of this stress that has been attributed to contradictions arising between nurses� professional ethic to care for these women and their own personal values (Char & McDermott, 1972; Olson 1980; Nagle, 1988, p.568) thus leading these nurses� in a state of moral dilemma. 
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Clarke, L. (1999). The person in abortion. Nursing Ethics, 6(1), 31-47. Huntington, A.D. (2002). Working with women experiencing mid-trimester termination of pregnancy: The integration of nursing and feminist knowledge in the gynecological setting. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 11(2), 273-280. Kerr, J.R. & MacPhail. (1996). Concepts in Canadian nursing. Edmonton, Alberta: Mosby. Marshall, S.L., Gould, D & Roberts, J. (1994). Nurses� attitudes towards termination of pregnancy. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 20, 567-576. Popoff, D. (1975). What are your feelings about death and dying? Nursing 5(9), 55-62. |
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