Relationship between length of service and ethics violations in nursing

Abstract

Objective: To examine the relationship between length of service and ethics violations by nursing personnel involved in complaints filed with the Mato Grosso do Sul Regional Nursing Council (COREN/MS).Method: This retrospective, descriptive, documentary study examined complaints filed with the COREN/MS, from 2003 to 2013.The study was approved by the research ethics committee.Results: 111 complaints were filed from 2003 to 2013, relating mostly to mid-level workers (54.6%).Personnel with 1-5 years of training were involved in more ethics complaints (44.7%).Conclusion: Ethics complaints involved predominantly newly-graduated nurses, indicating that further bioethics research is imperative in Brazilian nursing training, both to learn the real situation and to provide input to nursing teams’ decision-making.