OBJECTIVE: to understand nurses' reactions toward to unethical behaviors. METHODS: The sample consisted of nurses who were members of a nursing ethics committee or were working as nursing managers and that have had experience in dealing with unethical behaviors. Social phenomenology served as the theoretical framework for the study. Data were collected through interviews and grouped in categories. RESULTS: Participants' experiences in dealing with unethical behaviors were important factors in revealing the reasons for their reactions to unethical occurrences. These reasons were grouped in the following categories: beliefs and values, knowledge, and past experiences. CONCLUSION: Nurses who had previous experience in dealing with occurrence of unethical behaviors strive to guarantee safe quality nursing care to patients as well as to increase the creditability and better appreciation of the nursing staff.
Ethics; Nursing; Social Phenomenology