The objective of this study was to examine how nurses experience ethical values as they are expressed in daily practice in a Norwegian hospital. A growing focus in Western healthcare on effectiveness, production, and retrenchment has an influence on professional nursing standards and nursing values. Lack of resources and subsequent ethically difficult prioritizations imply a strain on nurses. This study is qualitative. Data collection was carried out by conducting 4 focus group interviews. The data was analyzed using content analysis. The results are presented in two main themes: (1) values and reflection are important for the nurses; (2) time pressure and nursing frustrations in daily work. The results demonstrate that nurses believe the ethical values to be of crucial importance for the quality of nursing; however, the ethical values are often repressed in daily practice. This results in feeling of frustration, fatigue, and guilty conscience for the nurses. There is a need for changes in the system which could contribute to the development of a caring culture that would take care of both patients and nurses. In an endeavour to reach this goal, one could apply caritative leadership theory, which is grounded on the caritas motive, human love, and mercy. 1. Introduction Western health services are characterized by increasing demands for effectiveness, production, and financial profit and economizing [1]. This has an impact on professional standards and clinical nursing values and constitutes a source of job-related stress and unrest for the nurses [2]. Norwegian studies from hospitals and local health services show that lack of resources and heavy work pressure lead to ethically difficult prioritizations and a lowering of nursing standards [3]. Vital medical needs are prioritized, while psychosocial needs are not adequately met [4]. Clinicians find themselves being disloyal to professional ideals and expectations [5]. European studies demonstrate that professional ethical codes become unattainable ideals for many nurses due to the lack of resources and heightened effectiveness in the healthcare environment [6]. Lack of resources and the lowering of priorities cause considerable strain on healthcare professionals both in hospitals and the local health services [4]. This strain can be understood as moral distress, a concept associated with the ethical dimension in practice and with issues related to difficulties in practice in terms of maintaining professional values, responsibility, and duties [7–11]. Moral distress, even though it is understood
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