Meanings assigned by nurses to ethical events in the Operating Theater

Abstract

This is a study with a qualitative approach on the actions of nurses in a surgical center (operating theater, pos-anesthetic recovery and materials and sterilization center), in the face of ethical events with nursing personnel in this sector. The subjects of the study were knowledge and understanding, based on the day-to-day experience of the nurses in this sector, the meanings they assigned to these actions. Alfred Schütz's Sociological phenomenology was used as the theoretical and philosophical framework, since it made it possible to understand the meanings of the phenomenon experienced by the subjects. The following guiding questions were directed at the subjects: How do you react given the nursing ethical events in your sphere of work? What guides you in the face of ethical events? What do you hope to achieve with your actions? The interviews were recorded, with the free and informed consent signed by the subjects and fully written out. The project was approved by the Ethics Research Committee of the School of Nursing of the University of São Paulo. The results showed that the motivation that guides the actions of nurses involve a concern to give nursing care free from risks and prevent new occurrences. The motive justifying their actions is supported by their personal and family beliefs and values.