Care Delivery and Treatment Decision Making: Bioethical and Nursing Considerations During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The disruption in the supply chain of resources and interruptions in cancer treatments caused by the pandemic presented tremendous challenges to the healthcare system. OBJECTIVES: This article describes the National Academy of Medicine-defined states of medical and nursing care delivery for which local plans should be drawn and the shifting and evolving systems framework that can guide decisions to optimize the crisis standards of care. METHODS: A case study is presented to describe the process of shifting the state of medical and nursing care delivery and bioethical nursing considerations during the pandemic and beyond. FINDINGS: An evolving and shifting systems framework for crises rooted in deontology, principlism, and the ethics of care model provide meaningful guidance for establishing priorities for patient care.

How Do You Provide Humanistic Care During a Pandemic?

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are at an unprecedented time in history. We practice at Monter Cancer Center in Lake Success, New York, which is part of Northwell Health, the largest health system in New York state, located in the initial epicenter of COVID-19 in the United States.

Ethical Challenges Encountered by Clinical Trials Nurses: A Grounded Theory Study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the ethical challenges experienced by oncology clinical trials nurses (OCTNs) during the management of CTs and to examine how they resolve those conflicts. SAMPLE & SETTING: 12 licensed RNs who had been practicing as full- or part-time OCTNs for a minimum of two years at various academic medical centers in the United States. METHODS & VARIABLES: Classical grounded theory (CGT), an inductive methodology used to explore a social process in which little is known and to develop a theory grounded in the data, was used, in addition to CGT data analysis strategies. RESULTS: CGT data analysis revealed the OCTNs' main concern (implementing an undefined job) and the way in which the OCTNs resolve this concern through the process of figuring it out. Figuring it out consists of learning as they go, utilizing their assets, standing their ground, and managing hope. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Although some nursing research provides examples of ethical challenges OCTNs might encounter in practice, there is little information regarding how nurses manage those encounters. A theoretical understanding of the OCTNs' experiences managing ethical challenges fills a gap in the nursing literature and provides a framework for how OCTNs manage and respond to challenges in professional practice.

Moral Distress: One Unit's Recognition and Mitigation of This Problem.

Moral distress experienced by staff has been well documented in the intensive care work areas, but less described in oncology nursing. Factors that contribute to moral distress include ethical dilemmas, mismatched goals of care among patients and their families and providers, and perceptions of futility of care. This article describes recognizing the risk of moral distress in a newly formed medical-surgical oncology unit and steps taken to mitigate developing moral distress, illustrating that moral distress is present in oncology nursing and warrants further study.

Consideraciones éticas para el cuidado de pacientes con dolor por cáncer en la comunidad / Ethical considerations about the care of patients with cancer pain in the community

Introducción: El tratamiento y alivio del dolor es un derecho humano. A pesar del desarrollo de los cuidados paliativos, es común la queja de dolor no controlado en pacientes con cáncer. El profesional de enfermería es uno de los principales eslabones de la atención multidisciplinaria del dolor y su tarea de cuidar se apoya en el respeto de los principios éticos. Objetivo: Exponer algunas consideraciones éticas para el cuidado de pacientes con dolor por cáncer. Métodos: Revisión bibliográfica sistemática para desarrollar un análisis crítico reflexivo del contenido de documentos, tesis de doctorado, artículos originales y de revisión publicados entre 2010 y 2019 en español, portugués e inglés. La búsqueda fue realizada en la base de datos SciELO y Google académico de enero a marzo de 2019, las palabras clave utilizadas fueron ética en enfermería, atención de enfermería, dolor en cáncer, manejo del dolor, bioética y enfermería oncológica. Tras la identificación de los estudios pre-seleccionados se llevó a cabo la lectura de los títulos, resumen y palabras clave, comprobando la pertinencia con el estudio. Conclusiones: El cuidado a pacientes con dolor por cáncer presenta una alta connotación ética. La competencia profesional, los principios éticos y morales, la colaboración en equipo multidisciplinario y la participación de la familia están unidos de manera indisoluble. Se presenta la comunicación como la mejor manera de cuidar al paciente y se constata que el escaso dominio de conocimientos para tratar el dolor viola los principios éticos(AU)

Introduction: Pain treatment and relief is a human right. Despite the development of palliative care, it is common to hear cancer patients complain about non-controlled pain. Nursing professionals are one of the main elements in the multidisciplinary care of pain, and their caring work should be based on respect for ethical principles. Objective: Present some ethical considerations about the care of patients with cancer pain. Methods: A systematic bibliographic review was conducted aimed at a critical reflexive analysis of the content of documents, PhD theses, original papers and review materials published from 2010 to 2019 in Spanish, Portuguese and English. The search was carried out in the databases SciELO and Google Scholar from January to March 2019, using the key words nursing ethics, nursing care, cancer pain, pain management, bioethics, oncology nursing. Upon identification of pre-selected studies, their titles, abstracts and key words were read to determine their relevance to the study. Conclusions: The care of patients with cancer pain has a high ethical connotation. Professional competence, ethical and moral principles, collaboration in multidisciplinary teams and the involvement of the family are all indissolubly linked. It was found that communication plays a crucial role in the care of patients, and that poor knowledge about pain treatment is a breach of ethical principles(AU)

Patient Dignity: Exploring Oncology Nurses' Perceptions During End-of-Life Care.

BACKGROUND: Research on nurses' perceptions of dignity is limited, with much work instead focusing on patients' experiences. Maintaining the dignity of patients is considered to be an important element of nursing care; however, it is often diminished by the acts and omissions of healthcare providers. OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this study were to understand oncology nurses' perceptions of care that supports patients' dignity during end-of-life hospitalization and to propose a theoretical foundation consistent with these perceptions as a guide to practice. METHODS: A qualitative study using grounded theory was employed. Semistructured interviews with 11 experienced female oncology nurses generated insights into their perceptions of dignity in caring for terminally ill patients. Data were analyzed using the constant comparative method until data saturation was reached. FINDINGS: This study revealed an emerging model for dignity care that uses communication, support, and facilitation in the education of nurses during end-of-life care. The proposed model could enhance the facilitation of nursing education and aid in the design of nursing course curricula and practical experiences that may improve nurses' ability to provide care supporting dignity.

The Role of Oncology Nurses as Ethicists: Training, Opportunities, and Implications for Practice.

Ethical challenges are inherent in oncology clinical practice. Ranging from transitions in care to code status and treatment decisions, these ethical challenges can have an acute effect on nurses, with well-established connections to moral distress and other psycho-emotional sequelae. The availability of a nurse ethicist can provide invaluable resources to support nurses in awareness of ethical challenges and support for ethical decision making in practice.

Cancer nurses' perceptions of ethical climate in Greece and Cyprus.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the interest in ethical climate has increased in the literature. However, there is limited understanding of the phenomenon within the cancer care context as well as between countries. AIM: To evaluate cancer nurses' perceptions of hospital ethical climate in Greece and Cyprus. RESEARCH DESIGN: This was a quantitative descriptive-correlational comparative study with cancer nurses. Data were collected with the Greek version of the Hospital Ethical Climate Survey questionnaire in addition to demographic data. PARTICIPANTS AND RESEARCH CONTEXT: In total, n = 235 cancer nurses working in cancer care settings in Greece and Cyprus were recruited at two national oncology nursing conferences. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS: The study conforms to the principles of the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki and the relevant ethical approvals were obtained according to national law. RESULTS: The results showed that in terms of the "Managers" dimension, participants working in Greek hospitals (4.30 ± 0.73) had a higher score compared to the Cyprus participants (3.66 ± 0.93) (t = -5.777, p ≤ 0.001). The perceptions of nurses working in oncology units in Greece regarding the ethical climate were more positive compared to Cyprus (M = 3.67 for Greece and M = 3.53 for Cyprus, p ≤ 0.001). Nurses with a higher level of education had a lower average ethical climate score across all dimensions. All dimensions exhibit positive and moderate to high correlations between them (r = 0.414-0.728, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: It is imperative to evaluate and improve the hospital ethical climate that prevails in each cancer care department. This highlights the fact that nurses working in seemingly similar cultural and organizational contexts might still have different perceptions of the ethical climate. Despite these differences, it is necessary to create the right conditions to address ethical issues. A positive ethical climate requires good relationships between healthcare professionals and the presence of good teamwork in order to ensure better healthcare provision.

Ethical decision-making levels of oncology nurses.

AIM: This study was carried out in order to determine ethical decision-making levels of oncology nurses. ETHICAL CONSIDERATION: Research Ethics Committee's approval was obtained prior to the data collection. Permission to use the Turkish version of the Nursing Dilemma Test was received from Birgül Cerit. Written approval was taken from school administrators to conduct the study confirming that there were no invasive procedures planned for human beings during the study period. The study was conducted in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration. Verbal consent was obtained from each of the nurses who agreed to participate after they were informed about the study content. METHOD: The population of this study conducted in a descriptive way consisted of a total of 96 nurses working at the oncology units and outpatient chemotherapy units of four different hospitals between September 2017 and March 2018. The study sample included 60 nurses who responded to the question form. The data of the study were collected using "Nurses Information Questionnaire" and "Nursing Dilemma Test" developed by Crisham in 1981. RESULTS: Oncology nurses' mean scores in Principled Thinking (49.00 ± 6.46) and those in Practical Considerations (18.35 ± 4.47) were found to be above the moderate level. It was determined that the oncology nurses participated in the study were familiar with situations similar to the dilemmas included in the Nursing Dilemma Test (15.00 ± 4.20). CONCLUSION: It was concluded that oncology nurses try to take ethical principles into consideration but are also affected by environmental factors while making decisions concerning ethical dilemmas. The most frequently encountered ethical dilemmas by oncology nurses include the following: deciding not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, telling the truth to the patient, studies being carried out without the patient's content, and patient's refusal of treatment. In order to improve oncology nurses' critical thinking and ethical decision-making skills, it is important to determine ethical dilemmas encountered by oncology nurses, and nurses should be encouraged to be involved in ethical decision-making process through cooperation with the other healthcare personnel.

A Hermeneutic Interpretation of Nurses' Experiences of Truth Telling and Harms in Cancer Care in Qatar.

BACKGROUND: Telling the truth to cancer patients remains under debate in the Middle East, where concealment about diagnosis and prognosis occurs in some cases. Concealment results in challenges for nurses providing care. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to understand nurses' lived experiences of caring for cancer patients whose cancer diagnosis or prognosis has been withheld from them. METHODS: Eight nurses from the national cancer center in Qatar were interviewed. The transcripts of the interview texts were interpreted using Gadamer's hermeneutic approach. RESULTS: The interpretations are shaped by understandings of harm. Nurses assessed harm using empathy. Nurses' empathy was permeated with fears that accompany a cancer diagnosis; the language of cancer is interpreted as a language of fear. It is ideas about harms and evoking patients' fear that generates nurses' experiences of complexity, ambiguity, and conflicting feelings regarding truth telling and concealment. The meanings nurses drew from their experiences rested on understandings about love, vulnerability, and opportunities to atone. We interpret nurses' descriptions of being enmeshed in a web of lies through which multidimensional harms are experienced. The complexities of nurses' experiences go well beyond the universal concepts of informed consent and patients' rights. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses' experiences reveal insights that likely resonate across other jurisdictions in the Arabic Gulf and other Eastern cultures, where nurses deal with these sensitive issues case by case. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Leaders and health professionals in cancer care in such cultures must establish more nuanced and transparent interdisciplinary approaches to respond to the complexities of truth telling in cancer care.

Psychometric Properties of the Hospital Ethical Climate Survey: A Cross-Sectional Study in Greek and Cypriot Cancer Care Settings.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Ethical climate provides the context in which ethical behavior and decision-making occur. To test the psychometric properties of the Greek version of the Hospital Ethical Climate Survey (HECS) in cancer care settings. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study with 235 cancer nurses. Principal component analysis (PCA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were examined. Reliability was investigated with Cronbach's coefficient α. RESULTS: Cronbach's α was 0.86 for the HECS total and ranged from 0.71 to 0.85 for the five subscales. PCA revealed that five components accounted for 61.09% of the variance which were comparable to those produced in the original validation study. The CFA with the five factors identified, produced a model with a good fit. CONCLUSION: The Greek version of the HECS is valid and reliable for use within the cancer care context.

Decision Making: Approaches and Tools to Respond to Ethical Issues in Genetic and Genomic Nursing.

Competent genetic and genomic nursing practice requires the incorporation of various ethical approaches, or tools, into patient decision making. Using different decision-making approaches, which converge to answer an ethical issue, nurses can be confident that their judgment is justified. A lack of convergence can signal a need to reexamine the nurse's ethical decision-making skills. This article describes four approaches that nurses can use to facilitate ethical decision making, which is a skill that must be learned and practiced; these will then be applied to a genomic case study.

Applicability of the adapted Moral Distress Scale in the context of nursing in hemato-oncology services. / Aplicabilidade da Moral Distress Scale adaptada no cenário da enfermagem em hemato-oncologia.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the applicability of the adapted Moral Distress Scale in the nursing setting of the hemato-oncology sector of a university hospital. METHOD: Cross-sectional study conducted with 46 nursing workers of a university hospital in the southern region of Brazil with data collected between December 2014 and March 2015 by means of the adapted Moral Distress Scale. Factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha, and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Factor analysis resulted in a group of 26 questions validated based on three factors: Lack of Competence in the Team, Denial of the Nursing Role as the Patient's Advocate, and Disrespect for the Patient's Autonomy. Cronbach's alpha of the instrument was 0.98. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the adapted Moral Distress Scale is an appropriate instrument for the identification of moral distress in nursing workers in the hemato-oncology area.

Ethical competence in DNR decisions -a qualitative study of Swedish physicians and nurses working in hematology and oncology care.

BACKGROUND: DNR decisions are frequently made in oncology and hematology care and physicians and nurses may face related ethical dilemmas. Ethics is considered a basic competence in health care and can be understood as a capacity to handle a task that involves an ethical dilemma in an adequate, ethically responsible manner. One model of ethical competence for healthcare staff includes three main aspects: being, doing and knowing, suggesting that ethical competence requires abilities of character, action and knowledge. Ethical competence can be developed through experience, communication and education, and a supportive environment is necessary for maintaining a high ethical competence. The aim of the present study was to investigate how nurses and physicians in oncology and hematology care understand the concept of ethical competence in order to make, or be involved in, DNR decisions and how such skills can be learned and developed. A further aim was to investigate the role of guidelines in relation to the development of ethical competence in DNR decisions. METHODS: Individual interviews were conducted with fifteen nurses and sixteen physicians. The interviews were analyzed using thematic content analysis. RESULTS: Physicians and nurses in the study reflected on their ethical competence in relation to DNR decisions, on what it should comprise and how it could be developed. The ethical competence described by the respondents related to the concepts being, doing and knowing. CONCLUSIONS: In order to make ethically sound DNR decisions in oncology and hematology care, physicians and nurses need to develop appropriate virtues, improve their knowledge of ethical theories and relevant clinical guidelines. Ethical competence also includes the ability to act upon ethical judgements. Continued ethical education and discussions for further development of a common ethical language and a good ethical working climate can improve ethical competence and help nurses and physicians cooperate better with regard to patients in relation to DNR decisions, in their efforts to act in the best interest of the patient.

Ethical leadership, professional caregivers' well-being, and patients' perceptions of quality of care in oncology.

PURPOSE: Although quality of care and caregivers' well-being are important issues in their own right, relatively few studies have examined both, especially in oncology. The present research thus investigated the relationship between job-related well-being and patients' perceptions of quality of care. More specifically, we examined the indirect effects of ethical leadership on patients' perceived quality of care through caregivers' well-being. METHOD: A cross-sectional design was used. Professional caregivers (i.e., doctors, nurses, assistant nurses, and other members of the medical staff; n = 296) completed a self-report questionnaire to assess perceptions of ethical leadership and well-being, while patients (n = 333) competed a self-report questionnaire to assess their perceptions of quality of care. The study was conducted in 12 different oncology units located in France. RESULTS: Results revealed that ethical leadership was positively associated with professional caregivers' psychological well-being that in turn was positively associated with patients' perceptions of quality of care. CONCLUSIONS: Professional caregivers' well-being is a psychological mechanism through which ethical leadership relates to patients' perceptions of quality of care. Interventions to promote perceptions of ethical leadership behaviors and caregivers' mental health may thus be encouraged to ultimately enhance the quality of care in the oncology setting.

Aplicabilidade da Moral Distress Scale adaptada no cenário da enfermagem em hemato-oncologia / Aplicabilidad de Moral Distress Scale adaptada el escenario de enfermería en hemato-oncologia / Applicability of the adapted Moral Distress Scale in the context of nursing in hemato-oncology services

Resumo OBJETIVO Verificar a aplicabilidade da Moral Distress Scale adaptada no cenário da enfermagem em hemato-oncologia de um hospital universitário. MÉTODO Estudo transversal realizado com 46 trabalhadores de enfermagem de um hospital universitário do sul do Brasil, com coleta de dados no período de dezembro/2014 a março/2015 por meio da Moral Distress Scale adaptada. Para análise dos dados foram utilizados análise fatorial, alfa de Cronbach e estatística descritiva. RESULTADOS A análise fatorial resultou no agrupamento de 26 questões validadas emtrês fatores, Falta de Competência da Equipe, Negação do Papel da Enfermagem como Advogada do Paciente e Desrespeito à Autonomia do Paciente. O alfa de Cronbach do instrumento foi 0,98. CONCLUSÃO Constatou-se que a Moral Distress Scale adaptada apresenta-se como uma ferramenta adequada para identificação do sofrimento moral nos trabalhadores de enfermagem de hemato-oncologia.

Resumen OBJETIVO Verificar el aplicabilidad de la Moral Distress Scale adaptada en el entorno de enfermería en hemato-oncología de un hospital universitario. MÉTODO Estudio transversal con 46 trabajadores de enfermería de un hospital universitario en el sur de Brasil, con la recogida de dados a partir de diciembre/2014 a marzo/2015 mediante la Moral Distress Scale adaptada. Para el análisis de datos se utilizo el análisis factorial, alfa de Cronbach y la estadística descriptiva. RESULTADOS El análisis de factores resultó en el grupo de 26 preguntas validadas en tres factores: Falta de competência del equipo de trabajo, Negación del papel de la enfermería como abogada del paciente y Falta de respeto a la autonomía del paciente. Alfa de Cronbach del instrumento fue de 0,98. CONCLUSIÓN Se encontró que la Moral Distress Scale adaptada se presenta como una herramienta adecuada para identificar la angustia moral en los trabajadores de enfermería de hemato-oncología.

Abstract OBJECTIVE To verify the applicability of the adapted Moral Distress Scale in the nursing setting of the hemato-oncology sector of a university hospital. METHOD Cross-sectional study conducted with 46 nursing workers of a university hospital in the southern region of Brazil with data collected between December 2014 and March 2015 by means of the adapted Moral Distress Scale. Factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha, and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. RESULTS Factor analysis resulted in a group of 26 questions validated based on three factors: Lack of Competence in the Team, Denial of the Nursing Role as the Patient's Advocate, and Disrespect for the Patient's Autonomy. Cronbach's alpha of the instrument was 0.98. CONCLUSION This study showed that the adapted Moral Distress Scale is an appropriate instrument for the identification of moral distress in nursing workers in the hemato-oncology area.

Nurse Perspectives on Referrals for Oncology Patients to Reproductive Endocrinologists: Results of a Learning Activity.

BACKGROUND: Although concern about future fertility for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer is high, referrals to reproductive endocrinologists (REI) are low. Oncology nurses are well positioned to facilitate these referrals but may lack the knowledge and training. This report describes a learning activity in the Educating Nurses about Reproductive Issues in Cancer Healthcare (ENRICH) program whereby oncology nurses interviewed REIs. METHOD: Participants were instructed to conduct an interview with an REI using a semistructured guide and provided a written report of the discussion. We examined responses to each question using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Seventy-seven participants across 15 states provided a summary. Learner summaries highlighted four themes related to FP, including Cost, Time, Lack of Information or Referrals, and Learning About Available Options. CONCLUSION: Oncology nurses have an opportunity for a partnership to ensure that concerns about fertility among AYA patients are addressed. J Contin Educ Nurs. 2016;47(8):376-384.

Ethical problems experienced by oncology nurses.

OBJECTIVE: To know the ethical problems experienced by oncology nurses. METHOD: Descriptive and exploratory study with a qualitative approach, performed in inpatient units and in chemotherapy out-patients units that provide assistance to oncological patients in two capitals in the South region of Brazil. Eighteen nurses participated in this study, selected by snowball sampling type. For data collection, semi-structured interviews were carried out, which were recorded and transcribed, and then analyzed by thematic analysis. RESULTS: Two categories were established: when informing or not becomes a dilemma - showing the main difficulties related to oncological treatment information regarding health staff, health system, and infrastructure; to invest or not - dilemmas related to finitude - showing situations of dilemmas related to pain and confrontation with finitude. CONCLUSION: For the effective confrontation of the ethical problems experienced by oncology nurses to occur, it is important to invest in the training of these professionals, preparing them in an ethical and human way to act as lawyers of the patient with cancer, in a context of dilemmas related mainly to the possibility of finitude.

Ethical problems experienced by oncology nurses / Problemas éticos vivenciados por enfermeiros oncológicos / Problemas éticos vividos por enfermeros oncológicos

Objective: to know the ethical problems experienced by oncology nurses. Method: descriptive and exploratory study with a qualitative approach, performed in inpatient units and in chemotherapy out-patients units that provide assistance to oncological patients in two capitals in the South region of Brazil. Eighteen nurses participated in this study, selected by snowball sampling type. For data collection, semi-structured interviews were carried out, which were recorded and transcribed, and then analyzed by thematic analysis. Results: two categories were established: when informing or not becomes a dilemma - showing the main difficulties related to oncological treatment information regarding health staff, health system, and infrastructure; to invest or not - dilemmas related to finitude - showing situations of dilemmas related to pain and confrontation with finitude. Conclusion: for the effective confrontation of the ethical problems experienced by oncology nurses to occur, it is important to invest in the training of these professionals, preparing them in an ethical and human way to act as lawyers of the patient with cancer, in a context of dilemmas related mainly to the possibility of finitude.

Objetivo: conhecer os problemas éticos vivenciados por enfermeiros oncológicos. Método: estudo exploratório e descritivo, com abordagem qualitativa, realizado em unidades de internação e em ambulatórios de quimioterapia que atendiam pacientes oncológicos em duas capitais da Região Sul do Brasil. Participaram do estudo 18 enfermeiros, selecionados mediante amostragem do tipo bola de neve. Para coleta de dados, foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas, gravadas e transcritas, analisadas mediante análise temática. Resultados: foram construídas duas categorias: quando informar ou não se torna um dilema - apresentando as principais dificuldades relacionadas às informações sobre o tratamento oncológico relacionadas às equipes de saúde, sistema de saúde e infraestrutura; investir ou não - dilemas relacionados com a finitude - apresentando situações de dilemas ligados à dor e confronto com a finitude. Conclusão: para que ocorra o enfrentamento efetivo dos problemas éticos vivenciados por enfermeiros oncológicos, torna-se fundamental investir na formação desses profissionais, preparando-os de forma ética e humana a intervir como advogados do paciente oncológico, em um contexto de dilemas relacionados principalmente à possibilidade de finitude.

Objetivo: conocer los problemas éticos vividos por enfermeros oncológicos. Método: estudio exploratorio y descriptivo con enfoque cualitativo, realizado en unidades de internación y en ambulatorios de quimioterapia que atendían pacientes oncológicos en dos capitales de la Región Sur de Brasil. Participaron de este estudio 18 enfermeros, mediante un muestreo del tipo bola de nieve. Para la recogida de datos se llevaron a cabo entrevistas semiestructuradas, grabadas y transcritas, analizadas mediante análisis temático. Resultados: dos categorías fueron construidas: cuando informar o no se convierte en un dilema - presentando las principales dificultades relacionadas con las informaciones del tratamiento oncológico relacionado con los equipos de salud, sistema de salud e infraestructura; invertir o no - dilemas relacionados con la finitud - presentando situaciones de dilemas relacionados con el dolor y confrontación con la finitud. Conclusión: para que el enfrentamiento efectivo de los problemas éticos vividos por enfermeros oncológicos ocurra, es fundamental invertir en la formación de estos profesionales, preparándolos de manera ética y humana para que actuen como abogados del paciente oncológico en un contexto de dilemas relacionados principalmente a la posibilidad de finitud.