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Turning the Tables

The Vulnerability of Nurses Treating Anorexia Nervosa Patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2016

KAREN WRIGHT  and
DORIS SCHROEDER
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Abstract:

In bioethics, the concept of vulnerability is applied almost exclusively to research participants and patients. We turn the tables and apply the concept to nurses caring for anorexia nervosa (AN) sufferers. In doing so, and using results from a qualitative research study undertaken in the UK, we show that AN nurses face a significant probability of incurring identifiable harms (inauthentic relationships and nonreciprocal relationships). Some recommendations on how these harms can be avoided or mitigated are given, but further research is needed.

Keywords

vulnerabilitynursinganorexia nervosatherapeutic relationships
Type
Special Section: Responsibility, Vulnerability, Dignity, and Humanity
Information
Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics , Volume 25 , Issue 2 , April 2016 , pp. 219 - 227
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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