Introduction
Ethical issues in nursing research include informed consent. The institution review board ensures that researchers observe and uphold the requirements that govern their relationship with the participants. During research, although a nurse seeks to gather quality first-hand information, they must not compromise the rights of the participants and should provide all information regarding the same. Ethical concerns during nursing research involve identifying the gap between a nurse’s research objective and the participants` rights.
Ethical concerns
One ethical issue in nursing and the selected research project revolves around informed consent. Considering the principles of beneficence, justice, and autonomy that guide the nurse researcher-participant relationship a nurse has to practice informed consent. With a dual role as a researcher and care provider, nurses can apply the three ethical principles in their practice (Judkins-Cohn, Kielwasser-Withrow, Owen, & Ward, 2014). Informed consent ensures the protection of human rights both in health care provision and in research because a patient or participant understands the process prior to any engagement. Informed consent also ensures that in research, participant understands how the researcher intends to use their feedback. In care provision, it ensures that the patient fully understands the condition of their health and the available options, which can assist in making it better. Broadly, in practice a nurse should allow participants and patients to have informed consent because it assures that they have volunteered autonomously to participate in the research.
With view on human rights, the consent after information promotes and respects the participant’s autonomy. It also protects the individuals from potential harm. Respect for the individuals also ensures that the research entails full disclosure on the nature of the research (Judkins-Cohn, Kielwasser-Withrow, Owen, & Ward, 2014). The researcher also maximizes the benefits and reduces any possible harm to the participants by taking the informed consent measures. In addition, an individual understands how they may withdraw from the research.
Institutional Review Board`s role
The review board plays a significant role in nursing research because all researchers must receive approval before commencing on their projects. The board members meet to ensure that during a research project the researcher considers and protects their human subjects. Therefore, the board serves as an advocate for human rights for individuals who participate in nursing research projects (Kim, 2012). Other than approving projects before they commence, the board has to sanction any changes to the initial research plans. It indicates that the review board monitors the project throughout its life span to ensure that the human subjects are not compromised in any way. In addition, the board concerns itself with ensuring that the researchers look into informed consent and provide all details to patients and participants prior to the project. Protecting human rights entails ascertaining that an individual has the full details regarding the research.
Theoretical framework
Hildegard Peplau`s theoretical framework suggests a suitable model for the research project. The model focuses on the interpersonal processes between a care provider and the client along with the roles that a nurse should play in a research process (Cruz, 2012).A nurse goes through three stages of the interpersonal process, which include orientation, termination, and working. The framework suggests that throughout the relationship power should shift from the care provider to the participant.
Conclusion
While conducting the nursing research project, an individual should ensure that, they offer the participant a chance to learn the details of the project. Informed consent ensures that the care provider respects and protects the human rights of the subjects in the study. Peplau`s framework allows a researcher to pass power from themselves to the participant which assures that care providers uphold the participants rights.
References
Cruz, R. (2012, March 4). Nursing Theories and the Practice of Nursing.Nursing Theories and the Practice of Nursing. Retrieved June 23, 2014, from http://www.peoi.org/Courses/Coursesen/nursepractice/nursepractice2.html
Judkins-Cohn, T. M., Kielwasser-Withrow, K., Owen, M., & Ward, J. (2014).Ethical Principles of Informed Consent: Exploring Nurses Dual Role of Care Provider and Researcher.The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 45(1), 32-45.
Kim, W. (2012, January 25). Abstract. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Retrieved June 23, 2014, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3272525/
