Korean nurses perceptions of ethical problems : toward on new code ethics for nursing

Abstract

The Nursing Philosophy, Theory, History and Ethics Interest Group of the Alpha Lambda Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau in Seoul undertook a study of Korean nurses' perceptions of ethical problems in nursing practice, administration, education and research in 1993. The purposes of the study were to develop the ethical concerns of Korean nurses and to make suggestions for contents and guidelines for a new code. The data consisted of 329 descriptive items of ethical problems summarized into 221 descriptions and 57 nurses responded. To meet the study objectives, we analyzed the data according to content themes, comparing these data with the code of the Korean Nurses' Association (KNA), to the codes of the Canadian Nurses' Association and the College of Nurses of Ontario. In conclusion, the result showed that a new KNA code needs to include guidelines at different levels of abstractness, including standards at a concrete level reflecting the ethical problems faced by nurses in practice, administration, education, and research.