Correlation between moral sensitivity and self-esteem in nursing personnel

Area of Science:

• Nursing Ethics
• Psychology

Background:

• Nurses frequently encounter ethical challenges in practice.
• High moral sensitivity and self-esteem are crucial for providing ethical care and managing dilemmas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between moral sensitivity and self-esteem in nursing personnel.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive-correlational study was conducted with 204 nurses from Iran University of Medical Sciences.
• Data were collected using demographic forms, the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire (Lützén), and the Self-Esteem Questionnaire (Rosenberg).
• Statistical analysis included descriptive and inferential statistics, with Pearson's correlation coefficient used.

Main Results:

• The mean score for moral sensitivity was 69.15 ± 5.70, and for self-esteem was 20.01 ± 4.76.
• A significant positive relationship was found between moral sensitivity and self-esteem (r = 0.472, P = 0.001).
• No correlation was observed between demographic data and moral sensitivity, but education level correlated with self-esteem.

Conclusions:

• A positive correlation exists between moral sensitivity and self-esteem in nurses.
• Nursing managers should promote nurses' self-esteem to enhance their moral sensitivity and improve patient care.
• Further research may explore interventions to boost both moral sensitivity and self-esteem in nursing practice.