The Paradoxical Tensions of Speaking–Being Silent: An Ethical Perspective

Choosing whether or not to speak or be silent is a paradoxical experience that emerges in the moment. For the discipline of nursing, it is an important value priority found in nurse-person, nurse-group, and nurse-community situations. The discipline of nursing is at a crossroad when contemplating what its place and status will be in the chaotic and ever-changing healthcare and higher educational arenas. The author in this article sheds new light on the future direction for what it means to articulate meaning as a nurse and the ethical consequences of choosing to speak–not speak up for the ever-changing priorities and purposes of the healthcare disciplines.