Perioperative nurses' involvement on nursing ethics committees.

Abstract

Ethics issues in health care are evolving constantly; however, perioperative nurses often feel unprepared or unqualified to deal with aspects of ethical decision making. Through involvement as members of a nursing ethics committee, perioperative nurses can obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to assist patients and peers in ethical decision making. Participation on nursing ethics committees improves perioperative nurses' levels of moral reasoning, enhances their ethical decision-making and patient advocacy skills, and increases their professional satisfaction.