Honesty and Dishonesty: Critical Care Nurses Experiences in giving information to patients

Reza Negarandeh^*, Mitra Khoobi, Majid Ahmadihedayat, Dougie Marks

Abstract            

Background:

Providing information to patients regarding their diagnosis and prognosis is an important aspect of care. The manner in which such information is imparted is also important and is influenced by various factors, including the cultural context and the situational specifics. To date, the experiences of nursing staff in providing such information has not been adequately explored.

Aims:

This paper aims to investigate the views of nurses regarding the interplay between honesty and dishonesty in conveying information to patients hospitalized in Critical Care regarding diagnosis and illness.

Design:

In this qualitative investigation, data were collected using semi-structured interviews with Critical Care Nurses. Content analysis (based on Graneheim and Lundman’s approach) was utilized in data analysis.

Method:

Twelve Iranian Nurses based in Critical Care, with at least a Bachelor’s degree and three years of working experience participated in this study.

Results:

The findings indicated that nurses believed that being honest when providing information to patients is a moral imperative. However, despite acknowledging this, some stated that in practice, decisions about what information to share was often influenced by expediency, rather than ethical practice.  As well, Reasons for honesty and dishonesty in providing information identified.

Conclusion:

Nurses believed that honesty is an important part of ethical practice, however situational specifics impact upon whether they tell or conceal the truth. Honest and open communication are important considerations in nursing practice. The highest value that dictated Nurses’ behavior was expediency, rather than ethical practice.

Relevance to clinical practice:

This topic is significant because knowing about the experiences of critical care nurses in being honest or dishonest is a Prerequisite to help us to do morally driven care.

Key words: nurses, critical care, honesty, patients