Ethical themes in nursing driven from Shahnameh

Culture is foundation of social ethics and provides answer for why something must be done. In nursing science، ethics makes nursing interaction meaningful. Shahnameh Ferdowsi is a valid evidence for Iranians` culture، values and beliefs. Aim is to develop nursing ethical concepts from Shahnameh Ferdowsi. This study was a content analysis with qualitative approach and inductive analysis. Shahname stories has been searched for “Parastar”، “Parastandeh” and “Parastandegan”. All stories including these words have been studied comparing to a valid interpretation of Shahname. Dependability and Conformability has been achieved by review، repeatedly coresearcher appraisal. Qualitative data has been categorized conceptually through inductive methods. 60 “Parastar”، 235 “Parastandeh” and 54 “Parastandegan” have been found in Shahname investigation. 23 “Parastar” and 6 “Parastandegan” were related to nursing ethics themes. Three themes has been developed as Accountability (consciousness and Confidentiality)، Emotional interaction (Sympathy) and Value interaction (Respectiveness and Beneficience). Modern nursing ethical concepts are compatible with ethical concepts of Shahname. Considering historical role of nurses in addition to clarifying values could build a platform to develop ethical codes for conducting nursing behaviors. Virtue ethics is an appropriate reference for nursing moral education.