Questioning potential ethical issues: facts on a hospitalized psychiatric patient with Covid-19

Abstract

The contradiction in the principles of handling psychiatric inpatients with Covid-19 accompanied by changes in managerial policies has the opportunity to create ethical challenges for nursing. However, minimal studies have described potential ethical issues during the care of mentally ill patients suffering from COVID-19. Therefore, maximum synergy is needed in handling Covid-19 in people with mental health conditions. Subsequently, potential ethical problems can be reduced and prevented. This study explores nurses' perspectives on potential ethical issues based on their experiences caring for Covid-19 patients undergoing psychiatric inpatient care. The results of this qualitative research data collection were analyzed using conventional content analysis according to Lundman and Graneheim. Data collection was carried out for fifteen in-depth interviews by considering data saturation. According to the convenience sampling technique, a head nurse was interviewed twice and conducted thirteen interviews with five nurses. During in-depth interviews, recordings were made and documented into transcripts for further analysis step by step to generate themes. The central theme formulated is the potential for ethical problems supported by three parts: ineffective psychiatric treatment, lack of managerial support for the patient's mental condition, and the complexity of the situation nurses face. Awareness, sense of responsibility, and self-confidence of nurses accompanied by management support facilitate the improvement of the physical and psychological conditions of psychiatric patients of Covid-19 patients.