Registered nurses’and physicians’reflections on their narratives about ethically difficult care episodes

Thirteen registered nurses and eight physicians in medical and oncological care reflected on their previous narratives about ethically difficult care situations. Although the interviewees had narrated different kinds of stories there were more similarities than differences in their reflections. Common themes were: meeting death, balancing between being open to one's own and others' reactions and being sheltered, handling advanced medical technology and grasping care as a whole. The two groups, however, disclosed different cognitive styles and types of rationality. The nurses referred to their personal experience of giving care and also receiving care very much within a praxis perspective, while physicians referred to science and proven experience within a poiesis perspective.