Table 1 Major themes and subthemes

1.1. Oppressive behaviors and interactions in the workplace emerged as barriers to nurses raising conscientious objection.

1.2. Subservient interactions in the workplace emerged as barriers to nurses raising conscientious objection.

1.3. Perceived ineffectiveness of conscientious objections emerged as a barrier to nurses raising them.

1.4. Fears of isolation bullying and negative gossip in the workplace emerged as barriers to nurses raising conscientious objection.

2. Suboptimal communication and inadequate support at work emerged as barriers to nurses raising conscientious objection.

2.1. Trivial amount of nurses’ involvement in medical decisions emerged as a barrier to nurses raising conscientious objection.

2.2. Nurses believe that collective conscientious objection raised by nurses might have increased chances of being effective.

3. Missing legal protection against job insecurity emerged as a barrier to nurses raising conscientious objection.

4. ‘Futile care’ emerged as main reason behind conscientious objection.

4.1. Most nurses adopted a strong stance (for different reasons) against providing the so-called ‘futile care’.

4.2. A few nurses adopted a strong stance (for different reasons) against avoiding or stopping the provision of the so-called ‘futile care’.

5. Nurses experienced mild uncertainty distress about their ethical concerns.

6. Some nurses had false knowledge and perceptions on medical situations related to conscientious objections.

7. Upbringing, childhood experiences, education and religion emerged as factors shaping the nurses’ core values.

8. Nurses considered their remote contribution as participation that can give rise to conscientious objection.