Moral reasoning in college students: implications for nursing education

Area of Science:

• Education
• Psychology
• Ethics

Background:

• Professional nurses face increasing ethical dilemmas.
• High moral reasoning is crucial for ethical nursing practice.
• Nursing educators seek methods to improve student ethical decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate moral reasoning levels in undergraduate students.
• To compare moral reasoning across different curricula and majors.
• To inform nursing education strategies for ethical development.

Main Methods:

• Used Rest's Defining Issues Test to assess moral reasoning.
• Compared three student groups (liberal arts traditional, liberal arts integrated, nursing traditional).
• Analyzed data from 266 undergraduate students.

Main Results:

• Liberal arts students in an integrated curriculum showed significantly higher moral reasoning.
• Nursing students' moral reasoning levels were intermediate between the two liberal arts groups.
• Curriculum structure impacts moral reasoning development.

Conclusions:

• An integrated, decision-making-focused curriculum may enhance moral reasoning.
• Baccalaureate nursing educators should consider adopting similar integrated curricula.
• Facilitating moral reasoning is essential for preparing nurses to navigate ethical challenges.