Ethical dilemas for nurses and their emotional implications

Some of the ethical and emotional problems that are presented to nurses are described. Nurses dealing with them are often the same age as medical students who are just starting their training and on qualifying as doctors will be less experienced in dealing with various life-and-death dilemmas than the nurses looking after their patients. It is contended that despite the fact that almost everyone at some time in their lives is going to depend upon a nurse, the subject of nursing and its dilemmas has been largely neglected, particularly by psychoanalytic/psychotherapy training organisations. Training is described which it is hoped would remedy some of the deficiencies of current nurse-training and encourage personal development and growth. It is also suggested that the training of medical students should include a period of nurse experience and training. The power which can be invested in the nurse is also described, along with the corrupting effect this can have on the nurse/patient relationship.