Priority ethical issues in oncology nursing: current approaches and future directions.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To describe ethical issues determined to be highly important to oncology nurses and to discuss strategies by which the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) can address these priority concerns.

DATA SOURCES

Survey on oncology nurses regarding ethical issues; nursing literature.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Nine priority ethical issues of oncology nurses are identified. Past, current, and future ONS activities that address these priority issues are discussed.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

ONS must support activities to increase the knowledge, confidence, and involvement of oncology nurses in discussions and decision making related to the ethical issues.

CONCLUSIONS

The top three priority ethical issues for oncology nurses are assisted suicide, end-of-life decisions, and pain management. Efforts should be made to increase ethics expertise among the ONS membership.