Ethical principles, sensitivity, and caring behaviors among nursing students: a cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Bioethics
• Healthcare Professional Development

Background:

• Ethical principles are crucial for nursing students' preparedness in complex healthcare environments.
• Developing ethical sensitivity and compassionate care behaviors is essential for nursing practice.
• Nurses face significant ethical dilemmas requiring a strong ethical foundation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between nursing students' attitudes towards ethical principles and their ethical sensitivity.
• To examine the correlation between nursing students' attitudes towards ethical principles and their caring behaviors.
• To assess the predictive role of ethical principle attitudes on ethical sensitivity and caring behaviors.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative, cross-sectional study design.
• Data collected from nursing students at a Turkish state university.
• Utilized the Ethical Principles Attitude Scale (EPAS), Ethical Sensitivity Questionnaire for Nursing Students (ESQ-NS), and Caring Behaviors Assessment Tool (CBAN-SF).

Main Results:

• A positive, moderate correlation was found between attitudes towards ethical principles and ethical sensitivity (r=0.443).
• A positive, substantial correlation existed between attitudes towards ethical principles and caring behaviors (r=0.533).
• Attitudes towards ethical principles predicted ethical sensitivity (19% variation) and caring behaviors (28% variation).

Conclusions:

• Enhanced attitudes towards ethical principles are associated with improved ethical sensitivity in nursing students.
• A stronger positive attitude towards ethical principles correlates with a better perception of caring activities.
• Ethical principle attitudes are significant predictors of both ethical sensitivity and compassionate behaviors in nursing students.