Ethics for Nursing and all of us
When I went to nursing school in 1981 ethics was not a separate course. It was not mentioned specifically at all. As I worked I heard of an ethics officer but I did not consider this person to be someone I needed to spend time much time with. We were taught to "do the right thing" and we assumed it was what we had been taught at home, in school or with our group. We did not consider that what one considered correct would be what another correct. The collective "we" ruled the world. We were culturally and morally closed. It did not seem wrong to those in "charge" but those on the other end may still see it differently.
We need to remember that some of those that remember the world that way are still living. We need more then an ethic's officerer; we need ethics committees now. Life and health care have many opportunities for ethical issues requiring thought and consideration for all people involved.
