Acting ethically in nursing: scoping review

Introduction: Ethics is an essential pillar in nursing practice, influencing the quality of care and interactions between nurses and users. This article explores the influence of ethics on nursing care, the ethical challenges faced and the importance of ethics training, as highlighted by Grace et al. (2023) and Yang et al. (2022). Objective: To systematically map scientific evidence on ethical action in nursing. Methods: A scoping review was carried out following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodological steps. The search was carried out in five scientific databases: PubMed, B-on, CINAHL Complete, Medline and Web of Science, with a search date of 10/22/2024, at the Escola Superior de Saúde de Viseu, removing publications from 01/01/2019 to 12/31/2024. After excluding 4343 duplicate articles, 4981 articles were screened, however, 26 articles were included for this study. Results: The essential ethical principles for the therapeutic relationship were identified, including thirteen virtues that nurses must cultivate to practice effective ethical care, respecting the user as a holistic being. The quality of care is intrinsically linked to the personal and professional values applied in the work environment. Conclusion: Ethics in nursing is crucial to guarantee the quality of care, guiding nursing professionals through essential values such as human dignity, autonomy and justice.