A Review of the Role of Idealism in Nurses’ Ethical Decision-Making
akhlāq-i pizishkī i.e., Medical Ethics,
Vol. 19 (1404),
25 Mehr 2025
,
Page 1-14
https://doi.org/10.22037/mej.v19i-.50929
Abstract
Background and Aim: Ethical decision-making is one of the fundamental components of the nursing profession and is influenced by nurses’ individual perspectives. Idealism, as a core dimension of ethical ideology, affects the way individuals judge and respond to complex ethical situations. However, the role of idealism in nurses’ ethical decision-making has received limited attention as an independent subject of review. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the role of idealism in nurses’ ethical decision-making through a narrative review.
Methods: This study was conducted as a narrative review without language or time restrictions up to 2025. All original studies were searched using the keywords idealism, decision-making, and nurse, as well as their Persian equivalents. The search was carried out in international databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, as well as Persian-language databases such as SID and Magiran. After completing the screening process, 17 articles were included in the final analysis.
Ethical Considerations: In the preparation of this study, principles of academic integrity, proper citation, and fidelity to original sources were fully observed.
Results: Five main findings regarding nurses’ ethical decision-making and the role of idealism were identified, based on the frequency of recurrence in the included articles. These findings included: the conflict between idealistic thinking and clinical realities; strong adherence to professional nursing ethical principles; efforts to integrate theoretical knowledge with clinical practice; a tendency to enhance knowledge regarding idealism; and emotional consequences associated with idealistic thinking.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that nurses’ ethical decision-making inspired by an idealistic approach may be influenced by professional ethical principles, clinical realities, theoretical knowledge, and nurses’ ability to apply professional ethical standards in practice. Practical ethics education and the localization of instruments used to assess ethical ideology may contribute to the improvement of ethical decision-making in nursing.
- Idealism
- Decision-Making
- Ethics
- Nursing
How to Cite
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