Pediatric Dialysis: Ethical Dilemmas Faced by Pediatric Intensive Care Nurses

Whether pediatric dialysis is morally obligatory is an ethicalissue.The study's aim was to understand neonatal andpediatric intensive care unit (ICU) nurses' beliefs regardingthe ethical use of pediatric dialysis. A single center studywas conducted using theoretical and case-based surveys.Sixty-three (63) registered nurses completed at least part ofthe survey. The most important factors influencing nurses'beliefs on the appropriateness of dialysis were patientquality of life, prognosis, and severity of comorbidities.Nurses with experience vs. nurses without experience car-ing for patients on dialysis ranked family wishes as moreimportant (p < 0.05) and were more likely to express theirbeliefs when they disagreed with the decision (p < 0.005).The data suggest that beliefs of nurses vary based ondemographic and situational factors. Consideration ofthese factors may improve care team communication.