Several nurses are working together to develop a research project

Several nurses are working together to develop a research project. Only one is doctorally prepared; the others have either a master’s degree or a baccalaureate degree. The preparatory work is to be shared equally among all the nurses. As the project evolves, it turns out that those who do not have a doctorate do all the work. At a meeting, the doctorally prepared nurse insists that she be listed as the principal investigator for the grant to be submitted and as the first author on all publications. She bases her request on a belief that the reviewers of the grant would “pay more attention to the application” if the principal investigator has a doctoral degree. Discuss the ethical issues embedded in this situation.