Ethical Challenges of Nurses in Caring for Patients with 
Chronic Mental Illness

Zare, Alireza; Taklif, Mohammad Hossein; Javid, Alireza; Amadeh, Zahra; Farid, Negin

Volume 17 - Supplement of 11th Annual Iranian Congress of Medical Ethics IJMEHM 2024, 17 - Supplement of 11th Annual Iranian Congress of Medical Ethics : 1-2 | Back to browse issues page

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Zare A, Taklif M H, Javid A, Amadeh Z, Farid N. Ethical Challenges of Nurses in Caring for Patients with Chronic Mental Illness. IJMEHM 2024; 17 (S1) :1-2
URL: http://ijme.tums.ac.ir/article-1-7164-en.html

Ethical Challenges of Nurses in Caring for Patients with Chronic Mental Illness

Alireza Zare¹, Mohammad Hossein Taklif², Alireza Javid², Zahra Amadeh³, Negin Farid ^*⁴

1- Master of Science in Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Iran
2- Marine Medical Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3- Master of Science in Medical-Surgical Nursing, Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
4- Student Research Committee, Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: (165 Views)

Nurses, as key members of the healthcare team, face complex ethical issues when caring for patients with chronic mental illnesses. These challenges include maintaining confidentiality, obtaining informed consent from patients with limited cognitive abilities, managing conflicts between patient rights and safety requirements, and addressing social stigma. Inadequate attention to these challenges may lead to reduced care quality and psychological stress for nurses. A better understanding of these challenges and the provision of appropriate solutions is essential. This study was conducted through a simple review approach. A comprehensive search was first conducted in PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar databases. Combined keywords such as "ethical challenges," "nursing," "chronic mental illness patients," and "ethical care" were used. Inclusion criteria included studies published in English and Persian from 2010 to 2023, including research, review, and qualitative articles related to the topic. A total of 150 articles were identified, and after evaluating their quality and relevance, 30 articles were selected for final analysis. Data were analyzed using thematic and comparative analysis methods. The findings revealed that nurses face multiple challenges, including maintaining confidentiality when interacting with families, obtaining informed consent from patients with cognitive disorders, and managing ethical conflicts between patient safety and individual freedom. Additionally, a lack of specialized ethical training, the absence of clear protocols, and the pressure from the social stigma of patients were identified as key challenges. The ethical challenges faced by nurses in caring for patients with chronic mental illness require special attention from relevant organizations. Providing continuous education, developing ethical guidelines, and creating psychological and legal support can help mitigate these challenges. Further studies on practical, experience-based solutions to address these issues are recommended.

Keywords: Chronic mental illnesses, Nursing, Ethical challenges, Informed consent, Ethical care

Full-Text [PDF 367 kb] (39 Downloads)

Type of Study: Ethics Congress | Subject: Health Ethics Congress (11th) - Poster Presentation
Received: 2026/02/15 | Revised: 2026/02/24 | Accepted: 2024/12/22 | Published: 2024/12/22