The nurses and physicians perceptions of ethical self-care in their professional relationship with each other: A phenomenological study

The relationship between the physicians and nurses involves their engagement in patient care to achieve a therapeutic goal. Professional relationship between physicians and nurses is inevitable. Ethics is essential in all professions. Effective communication between physicians and nurses has been shown to enhance patient care. Effective collaboration between nurses and physicians increases their successfully and satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to the exploration of nurses and physicians experiences of ethical self-care in their professional relationship with each other.

This study is a qualitative research using phenomenology method. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were carried out with 8 nurses and 7 physicians. They described their experiences related to professional communication. The interviews were recorded and transcribed and the data were then analyzed by using the Colaizzi analysis method.

Four themes emerged from data analysis in which influence the nurse-physicians relationship. One of them was perception of ethical self-care in their professional relationship. Professional relationships between physicians and nurses were described based on this theme.

Based on the experience lived by nurses and doctors to understand the professional relationship can be said professional relationship between physicians and nurses is a phenomenon that is understood by the ethical self-care perception and to improve the quality of patient care and nurseschr('39') job satisfaction and doctors is essential.