The Nurse Administrator as Caring Person: A Synoptic Analysis Applying Caring Philosophy, Ray’s Ethical Theory of Existential Authenticity, The Ethic of Justice, and The Ethic of Care

Abstract

By virtue of their position, nurse administrators are responsible for patient outcomes, developing strategic plans and budget forecasts, and overall organizational viability. In addition to these activities, nurse administrators recognize that it is equally, if not more, important to care for individual staff members, to role model caring, and to facilitate an environment where caring is valued. This article presents a nurse administrator’s experience of living caring during and after two hurricanes that devastated the hospital and its staff members. Caring philosophy, the ethics of care, and the ethics of justice theories are used as frameworks through which to view how living caring within this situation provided for the needs of the individuals and for the organization