Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Exploring the Ethical Dilemmas Faced by Nurses and Physicians in Pangasinan

Abstract

This study explored the lived experiences of healthcare workers in Pangasinan regarding ethical dilemmas encountered in professional practice. Specifically, the study examined the ethical conflicts experienced by healthcare workers, the coping strategies used to manage these dilemmas, and the insights they developed through their experiences in healthcare settings. This study utilized a qualitative phenomenological research design to investigate the lived experiences of healthcare workers encountering ethical dilemmas in healthcare practice. Purposive sampling was employed to select participants who had direct experiences with ethical conflicts in healthcare settings. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological descriptive method. The findings revealed that healthcare workers commonly experience ethical dilemmas related to resource limitations, patient autonomy, end-of-life care, institutional pressures, confidentiality concerns, and financial constraints affecting patient care. Participants managed ethical conflicts through consultation with colleagues and supervisors, adherence to ethical guidelines, reflective practice, and open communication with patients and families. The study also highlighted the emotional and professional impact of ethical dilemmas, including moral distress, compassion fatigue, and emotional exhaustion, while demonstrating the importance of resilience, peer support, and ethics education. The study was limited to selected healthcare workers in Pangasinan and focused primarily on physicians and nurses. Future studies may include other healthcare professionals and broader geographic settings to further explore ethical dilemmas across diverse healthcare environments. Healthcare institutions may strengthen ethical decision-making and reduce moral distress by providing ethics education, establishing structured support systems, improving staffing conditions, and encouraging collaborative ethical discussions among healthcare professionals. Understanding healthcare workers’ ethical challenges may contribute to improved healthcare delivery, patient-centered care, and the development of supportive This study contributes to the growing body of literature on healthcare ethics by providing context-specific insights into the lived experiences of healthcare workers in provincial healthcare settings in the Philippines.