Nurses' reflections on ethical decision making: implications for leaders.

This study documents moral/ethical situations that nurses in acute care hospitals experience as described by the nurses themselves. Findings show on-going evidence of caring, connectedness, and context. Decisions made often showed a balance between perceived ideal action and realistic action. This study also demonstrates that nurses need more opportunity for ethical reflection, that employers must become more involved in ethics education, and that further study of ethical decision making is needed as professionals and clients become more diverse.