Ethical issues in public health nursing

This qualitative study was designed to explore ethical issues in public hea lth nursing in the Canadian context, and to begin to identify strategies to support ethical practice. Twenty-two public health nurses, 11 in rural and 11 in urban settings, were asked to describe ethical problems they had exp erienced in the course of their work. These participants most often describ ed situations that required a relational response rather than an active cho ice between options. Their goal was to optimize the good, while at the same time maintaining a supportive relationship. Analysis revealed five interre lated themes, each with several subthemes: relationships with health care p rofessionals; systems issues; character of relationships; respect for perso ns; and putting self at risk. It was clear that all aspects of public healt h nursing have ethical components.