Paper
Monday, November 14, 2005
This presentation is part of : Using an Ethical Framework to Examine Nurses' Practice
Research results using symphonology
Anne R. Bavier, PhD, RN, FAAN, School of Nursing, Saint Xavier University, Chicago, IL, USA, Margaret Irwin, PhD, RN, Director of Performance Improvement, Jefferson Memorial Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, and Marge Hardt, PhD, RN, PA, USA.

The profession of nursing has long considered the ethical dimensions of its practice, research and education. The evolution of the field of bioethics within the last 35 years brought multidisciplinary attention to the challenges. The majority of works were thought-provoking empirical discussions, but subject to multiple interpretations. Until recently, the paucity of theories applicable to practice greatly limited systematic, rigorous research into the ethical dimensions of professional nursing. As scientific discoveries, technological advances, and constrained resources change the options and decisions facing patients, the nursing profession has a critical need to investigate the bioethical dimensions of its practice. Symphonology provided a clear theoretical approach because it allows evaluation of results against the terms of agreement and the underlying bioethical principles. This presentation summarizes the three nursing investigations conducted by doctoral students under the guidance of the theory's author. Each study has a distinct focus: nurses, patients making decisions, and concurrent nurse and patient perceptions during the ethical decision making process. The methods and findings of each study will be presented, recognizing that each is limited by small sample size. However, the studies demonstrate utility of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches within the Symphonology framework. Collectively, the studies form a basis and justification for the continuation of research related to the ethical dimensions of nursing and patient care utilizing the Symphonology theory.