Ethics in nursing: categorization of legal processes

cross-sectional, retrospective study, based on secondary data obtained from ethical-disciplinary lawsuits filed at the Regional Nursing Council of Goiás (Coren-Goiás) between the years 2010 and 2019.

Results:

the highest number of lawsuits filed was in 2013 and 2014, with a greater frequency in the state capital. The majority came from the Nursing Ethics Committees and ex-officio complaints. The professional with most complaints was the nursing technician, aged between 31 and 40 years old, at the beginning of their career. The most common type of complaints referred to performing attributions that were not within the nursing competences.

Conclusions:

as a highlight are the contributions of this study to professional ethics in nursing and the clear need to consolidate these skills in nurses who are in training and in the continuous education for those already in the profession.

Descriptors:
Ethics in Nursing; Legal Process; Nurse’s Role; Nursing Legislation; Nursing.

Complainants’ Profile	n	Frequency (%)
Nursing professional
Nurse	7	28.0
Nursing technician	5	20.0
Nursing Ethics Committee	13	52.0
Total	25	100.0
Non-Nursing professionals
Family	8	7.3
Other patient	1	0.9
Other professionals	6	5.5
Victim	3	2.7
Office staff	85	77.9
Public Ministry	3	2.7
City Hall	1	0.9
Health Surveillance	1	0.9
SUS National Audit Department	1	0.9
Total	109	100.0

Denounced professionals’ profile	n	Frequency (%)
Professional category
Nurse	57	31.3
Nursing technician	106	58.2
Nursing assistant	19	10.5
Total	182	100.0
Age (years)
21-30	45	24.7
31-40	69	37.9
41-50	43	23.6
51-60	24	13.1
61-70	1	0.5
Total	182	100.0
Time in profession (years)
< 1-5	101	55.4
6-10	46	25.2
11-15	20	10.9
16-20	7	3.8
21-25	5	2.7
26-30	3	1.6
Total	182	100.0

NPCE Infringed Articles	n	Frequency (%)
Cofen Resolution n.º 311/2007
Art. 51 - Comply, within the established period, with the determinations and summons of the Federal and Regional Nursing Council.	23	13.2
Art. 5º - Perform the profession with justice, commitment, equity, resoluteness, dignity, competence, responsibility, honesty, and loyalty.	21	12.1
Art. 12 - Assure the person, family, and community a nursing care that is free from damage resulting from malpractice, negligence, or recklessness.	16	9.2
Art. 13 - Carefully assess your technical, scientific, ethical, and legal competence and only accept duties or assignments when capable of a safe performance for yourself and others.	10	5.7
Art. 34 - To provoke, cooperate, collude or omitt any form of violence.	10	5.7
Others	94	54.0
Cofen Resolution n.º 564/2017
Art. 81 Provide services that, by their nature, are the responsibility of another professional, except in an emergency, or that are expressly authorized by current legislation.	3	16.7
Art. 25 Base your relationships on law, prudence, respect, solidarity, and diversity of opinion and ideological position.	2	11.1
Art. 41 Provide nursing care without discrimination of any kind.	2	11.1
Others	11	61.1

Associação Brasileira de Enfermagem SGA Norte Quadra 603 Conj. "B" - Av. L2 Norte 70830-102 Brasília, DF, Brasil, Tel.: (55 61) 3226-0653, Fax: (55 61) 3225-4473 - Brasília - DF - Brazil
E-mail: reben@abennacional.org.br

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[1] Corresponding author: Luana Cássia Miranda Ribeiro E-mail: luaufg@yahoo.com.br