Promoting moral imagination in nursing education: Imagining and performing

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Medical Ethics
• Healthcare Simulation

Background:

• Moral imagination is crucial for moral agency and person-centred care.
• Technical rationality in healthcare and education can hinder the development of moral agency.
• Nursing education requires deliberate focus on fostering moral agency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the impact of simulated learning experiences (SLEs) on nursing students' moral imagination and agency.
• To examine the role of simulated participants (SPs) in developing empathy and moral reasoning.
• To investigate how SLEs can promote person-centred care and workplace violence prevention.

Main Methods:

• A multimodal educational intervention including SLEs was developed for nursing students.
• Eleven nursing students were trained as simulated participants (SPs) to enhance realism.
• Qualitative data were collected through interviews and focus groups with SPs.

Main Results:

• SPs reported that embodying different roles fostered empathy and a "both sides" perspective.
• This experience prompted a reconsideration of moral agency and the potential for violence prevention beyond technical skills.
• Findings supported the value of embodied experiences in professional formation.

Conclusions:

• Simulated learning experiences provide unique pedagogical spaces for cultivating moral imagination.
• Promoting moral imagination through SLEs is essential for teaching moral agency and person-centred care.
• This approach offers a valuable method for preparing nurses to address complex ethical challenges, including workplace violence.