akhlāq-i pizishkī i.e., Medical Ethics

Vol. 20 (1405)

Training Nurses in Ethical Reasoning Skills to Address Ethical Decision-Making Challenges in Providing End-of-Life Care for Critically Ill Patients

akhlāq-i pizishkī i.e., Medical Ethics, Vol. 20 (1405), 13 July 2026 , Page 1-4
https://doi.org/10.22037/mej.v20i.52085

Abstract

Providing end-of-life care to critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs) is consistently associated with numerous ethical challenges for nurses. These challenges typically arise from disagreements regarding the continuation or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments, conflicts between patients’ and families’ preferences, legal constraints, communication difficulties with unconscious patients, and significant professional responsibilities. Given the pivotal role of nurses in these units, enhancing their ethical reasoning abilities could serve as an effective strategy in dealing with such situations. This letter to the editor aims to emphasize the necessity of training nurses in ethical reasoning skills to deal with ethical decision-making challenges in providing end-of-life care for critically ill patients admitted to ICUs. It appears that training ethical reasoning skills can be considered a strategic necessity for nurses in ICUs. Such training can assist them in analyzing difficult clinical encounters and making ethical decisions in complex circumstances, while also leading to the enrichment of professional identity and quality of care offered for patients and their families. Given the existing evidence indicating the unsatisfactory level of ethical reasoning proficiency among Iranian nurses, particularly in ICUs, implementing targeted and systematic training programs can be essential. These interventions can play a key role in managing ethical conflicts and enhancing care standards; therefore, it is expected that health policymakers prioritize the development and integration of such training programs into continuing education and professional development for nurses.

Keywords:
  • Ethical Reasoning
  • Ethical Decision Making
  • End of Life Care
  • Nursing Ethics

How to Cite

Nazari, A. M., & Gholami, M. (2026). Training Nurses in Ethical Reasoning Skills to Address Ethical Decision-Making Challenges in Providing End-of-Life Care for Critically Ill Patients. akhlāq-I Pizishkī i.E., Medical Ethics, 20, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.22037/mej.v20i.52085

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