The relationship between professional autonomy and moral distress among nurses working in children's units and pediatric intensive care wards

Background: Nurses serve as the primary source of care for minor patients in intensive care units. Even though they support both patients and their relatives, these nurses may experience moral distress from their profession. While managing their daily relationships with their patients, nurses must also be able to control their actions to feel that they are from a social unit and feel their competence in association with others.Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between professional autonomy and moral distress among nurses working in children's units and pediatric intensive care wards. Methods: This descriptive/comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015 using 120 nurses as subjects. Subjects were selected using the census method. The research tools used to gain measurable data were the Pankratznursing questionnaire(PNQ) and Corley'sMoral distress scale (MDS). In order to analyze the collected data, descriptive statistic tests such as the relative frequency distribution, mean, standard deviation and the Pearson correlation test, T-test, ANOVA, and regression were used. The SPSSv.20 software was also used to analyze the data obtained. Results: The relationship between professional autonomy and moral distress revealed that there was a significant positive relationship between professional autonomy and moral distress in the intensity (r=0.39;P<0.001) and the iteration (r=0.41;P<0.001). In addition, professional autonomy predicted 18% of changes in intensity of moral distress in total(MR = 0.42, R2 = 0.18) and also professional au-tonomy predicted 25% of iteration in moral distress in total(MR = 0.507, R2= 0.25). Conclusions: The results of this study revealed that there was a direct positive relationship between professional autonomy and moral distress.

Nurses' lived experiences of professional autonomy in Iran

Objectives: Nurses' autonomy is a complex and multi-dimensional concept that has often been overlooked.Although many studies have addressed patients' autonomy,there has been no assessment of nurses' experience of professional autonomy.The present study aimed to assess nurses' lived experiences of professional autonomy in Shiraz,Iran.Methods: The present qualitative study was conducted in Shiraz (Iran) from January 2016 to February 2018.The target population was selected among nursing professionals employed by various hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences,Shiraz,Iran.The experiences of the participants were assessed through 14 in-depth semi-structured interviews.The response of the participants was analyzed using Van Manen's 6-step approach for interpretive phenomenology.Results: Based on the analysis of the interviews,4 themes,11 categories,and 13 sub-categories were extracted.The themes were: Advocacy for patients and nurses,independence in the workplace,Involvement in professional decision-making,and Professional accountability.Conclusion: Due to the intense interaction between nurses and patients,a better quality of care will be achieved if the professional autonomy of nurses is ensured.Healthcare authorities and hospital managers should provide the framework and permit the nurses to practically exercise full independence in the workplace.

RETRACTED: Professional Autonomy in the Running of Diagnostic Laboratories in Nigeria

Short Retraction Notice The paper does not meet the standards of "Open Journal of Internal Medicine". The article has been retracted due to the investigation of complaints received against it. The substantial portions of the text came from Prof. Philip O. Olatunji, "We came to this painful conclusion as a result of parochialism, distortion of facts, deliberate ignorance, falsehood and slander contained in the said article". The scientific community takes a very strong view on this matter and we treat all unethical behavior seriously. This article has been retracted to straighten the academic record. In making this decision the Editorial Board follows COPE's Retraction Guidelines. Aim is to promote the circulation of scientific research by offering an ideal research publication platform with due consideration of internationally accepted standards on publication ethics. The Editorial Board would like to extend its sincere apologies for any inconvenience this retraction may have caused. Editor guiding this retraction: Professor Luigi Iuliano (EB, OJIM) Please see the article page for more details. The full retraction notice in PDF is preceding the original paper which is marked "RETRACTED".

An Occupational Perspective of Occupational Therapy and the Medical Hegemony System in Malaysia—Exploration for Further Research

Occupational Therapy is critically underdeveloped in many developing countries in Asia. There are many internal and external barriers to the growth of the profession, including lack of willpower and lack of professional representation in the government. This article aims to communicate the postulations for its stagnation across developing countries in Asia. An analytical reflection and historical review of the barriers to the growth of occupational therapy in Malaysia was conducted. Leaders in the field who met the inclusion criteria, collaborated to shape the reconstructions using an occupational reconstruction approach. The reconstruction guided key critical reflections on the roots of daily experiences to relive the cooperative action to problem solve the issues encountered by the profession in Malaysia. Medical hegemony was found as the active suppressor of the health professions, and can be seen as being beyond reproach in the Asian’s medical model that created occupational injustices. These occupational injustices hinder the growth of Occupational Therapy, do not serve the patients, science or the overall healthcare system. Autocratic governance has a debilitating impact on health sciences and its workforce especially around badly oppressed Asian countries. A greater systematic approach is needed to examine the extent, effect, problem solve and remediate the magnitude of injustices over the last decade—to make way for an inclusive and affordable care system.