Problem: Nurse Stephen works in the oncology department at XYZ Hospital. The department is conducting a clinical research study, and Nurse Stephen is responsible for providing care to the participants. Throughout his time working on the trial, Nurse Stephen witnessed some situations that challenged his principles that he felt compelled to report.
1. During intake, he witnessed a patient struggling to read the informed consent paperwork. The nurse assured the patient the form was "all standard" and "just a formality." What is the correct way to handle informed consent in a research study?
2. Nurse Stephen overheard a pair of fellow staff members talking in detail about patients participating in the research study. What ethical principles are these staff members violating?
3. Nurse Stephen and a colleague are working the research study, collecting data. He notices that his colleague has missed a couple of vital signs he's read off. When he brings this up to her, she says, "Oh yeah. No worries. I'll just copy the ones from yesterday." What is the problem with her reasoning?