Inclusion of nursing personnel as members of research ethics committees and bioethics committees

Abstract

Introduction: Research Ethics Committees, Clinical Ethics Committees, and hybrids committees (performing both functions) are bodies responsible for overseeing ethical issues in human research and healthcare. This study examines the inclusion of nursing staff in these committees in Argentina, describing their types, roles, and the barriers to participation. Materials and methods: The research was exploratory, observational and cross-sectional. A structured questionnaire was sent to the identified committees. Data such as the year of creation, the type of committee, the number of members, and the presence of nursing were analyzed. Results: A total of 258 committees were identified; 85 committees responded to the structured survey between July and December 2023. Nursing participation was low: only 53% of the committees surveyed included at least one nursing professional. Several committees emphasized the importance of nursing contributions, given their bedside experience and involvement in qualitative research. Reported barriers to participation included structural problems, lack of interest, insufficient institutional support, and time constraints. Together, these factors explain the low representation of nursing staff. Discussion: The relevance of the nursing perspective is reflected in its professional contribution in these spaces. Their low representation indicates the need to address the identified barriers to achieve an interdisciplinary approach. Promoting bioethics training and institutional support for nursing staff would facilitate their integration into these committees.