Date of Award

11-4-2024

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Nursing (MScN)

First Advisor

Dr. Salma Rattani

Second Advisor

Dr. Robyna Khan

Third Advisor

Dr. Barbara Wilson-Keates

Department

School of Nursing and Midwifery, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Whistleblowing in healthcare is therefore very important to maintaining high ethical standards, guaranteeing protection, and sustaining quality care for both the givers and receivers of care. Systematic and cultural barriers often deter whistleblowing from occurring. It is with an aim to highlight that understanding these barriers and benefit solely from facilitators is essential when scaling up improvements in whistleblowing processes in healthcare organizations.
Purpose: The current research aims to identify the perceived challenges and enablers related to whistleblowing among nurses in a private tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.
Method: The study adopted an exploratory, descriptive qualitative design research approach. The researcher interviewed 13 participants (Nurses). All the interviews were transcribed and analyzed using Creswell’s (2013) content analysis approach. This approach involved analyzing the data, categorizing it, and looking for central themes while uncovering some of the dynamics of whistleblowing from the participants' perspectives.
Findings: The researchers extracted three main themes with corresponding categories; the three emerging themes were: (1) Whistleblowing from Nurse's Perspectives; whistleblowing as an ethical duty, and a method for enhancing health safety for patients and healthcare systems. (2) Barriers to Whistleblowing; lack of institutional support, cultural and social pressures, fear of consequences; (3) Empowering Whistleblowers; Developing strong and supportive institutional policies for practices, leadership effectiveness, and education and capacity building.
Conclusion: The study emphasizes the need to establish some form of protection for whistleblowers within the type of care institution. Whistleblowing can be improved through increased clarity in policy to address identification barriers, culture extension, and training. All of these steps serve to enhance patient safety and maintain an ethical climate in healthcare settings.

First Page

1

Last Page

93

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