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A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Nurses' Ethical Concerns

Barbro Wadensten

Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

Stig Wenneberg

Växjö University, Växjö, Sweden

Marit Silén

Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden

Ping Fen Tang

Kunming Medical College, Kunming, Province of Yunnan, China

Gerd Ahlström

Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden, gerd.ahlstrom{at}hhj.hj.se

The aim of this study was to compare Swedish and Chinese nurses' experiences of ethical dilemmas and workplace distress in order to deepen understanding of the challenges neuroscience nurses encounter in different cultures. Qualitative interviews from two previously performed empirical studies in Sweden and China were the basis of this comparative study. Four common content areas were identified in both studies: ethical dilemmas, workplace distress, quality of nursing and managing distress. The themes formulated within each content area were compared and synthesized into novel constellations by means of aggregated concept analysis. Despite wide differences in the two health care systems, the nurse participants had similar experiences with regard to work stress and a demanding work situation. They were struggling with similar ethical dilemmas, which concerned seriously ill patients and the possibilities of providing good care. This indicates the importance of providing nurses with the tools to influence their own work situation and thereby reducing their work-related stress.

Key Words: cross-cultural comparison • ethical dilemmas • nursing ethics • quality of nursing • workplace distress

Nursing Ethics, Vol. 15, No. 6, 745-760 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0969733008095385
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