Ethical issues in pediatric perioperative nursing

Pediatric perioperative nurses are faced with ethical issues daily. These issues may occur in the preoperative, intraoperative, and/or postoperative phase of perioperative nursing. It is important that pediatric perioperative nurses recognize ethical issues and seek mechanisms for resolving them. This is accomplished by identifying these issues with the ethical principles involved and using an ethical decision-making process. By participating in ethical decision making, pediatric perioperative nurses can better assume the role of patient advocate.