Nurses enhance their “arete” in clinical practice: Seeking virtue

Abstract

　　It is important for clinical nurses to be virtuous. Nurses would acquire knowledge of “arête” by interacting with and caring for patients on clinical practice. However, if the nurses prioritize medical safety, such as preventing accidents in clinical situations, nurses would never acquire knowledge of “arête”. Nurses should seek virtue for their patients so that nursing practice is a scientific practice containing virtue. Two case studies are described in this article. One involves the clinical problem of using physical restraints for older patients undergoing dialysis. The second concerns barriers that prevent older patients from accidents, such as falling out of bed. Both cases indicate that preventing any accidents in clinical situations might induce other ethical dilemmas such as damaging patients' rights, or creating uncomfortable feeling for patients. Nurses should take actions in clinical situations such as listening to patients' real concerns, supporting their autonomy, gaining perspective on their own values, getting a perspective beyond that of medical staff, knowing oneself, and recognition of diversity of opinions. Part of the solution would be for hospital administrators to arrange sufficient nursing staff to enable successful patient-centered care and then to support education for acquiring in “arête” for ethically informed practice.