ABSTRACT
Objectives:
To identify and analyze nursing care practices that affect ethical and professional values in intensive care.
Methods:
A qualitative and descriptive study was conducted in 2011 with 21 nurses from the Intensive Care Unit of a public hospital in the city of Rio de Janeiro, based on the Hans Jonas's ethic of responsibility framework. The observation of practices was carried out during 150 hours, followed by extensive description, and 21 individual interviews, in which thematic content analysis was applied.
Results:
The distancing of nurses from direct care and their preference for providing care to sedated patients due to their low demand for attention and presence were found.
Conclusion:
The distancing from patients and direct care affects the ethical and responsible behavior of nurses and their ethical and professional values, resulting in negligence of the concept of person that forms the basis of the nursing metaparadigm.
Keywords:
Nursing; Nursing Care; Biomedical Technology; Intensive Care Units; Nursing Ethics