Comparison of Ethical Reasoning in Nursing Students and Registered Nurses of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, 2010.

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction and Aims: High ethical reasoning ability is one of the main requirements of nursing profession. This ability should be improved in nursing student during educating period and it should be more evolved with entry of independent clinical work as a nurse. Little research evidences are exists in Iran about the level of ethical reasoning of nursing students and nurses. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine and to compare the ethical reasoning of nursing students and nurses in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Materials and Methods: This descriptive –compressional study was done in 2010 on 115 nursing students and 269 nurses who were selected by census method. For data gathering the nursing dilemma test questionnaire which consists of scenarios was used. In this questionnaire the first priority choice of participant indicated their level of ethical reasoning and principled thinking score which is the sum of scores of fifth and sixth levels of Kohlberg ethical development was calculated and its score varied from 18 to 66. The data were analyzed using SPSS software and, descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings: It was found that 4.01% of nurses and 7.8% of nursing students are at the post conventional level of moral reasoning and nursing students' principled thinking mean score (48.9±6.5) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than nurses principled thinking mean scores (46.6±6.7). Also it was found that nursing principled thinking score in internal ward nurses was higher than other wards nurses and this score was declined by increasing of clinical experiences (p<0.05). Examinations showed that practical considerations adversely effect on the moral reasoning ability and previous familiarity with similar scenarios have no effect on moral reasoning ability of participants (p<0.05). Conclusion: In this study it was found that a substantial proportion of nurses and nursing students have lower levels of moral reasoning. Also, it was found that nurses' principled thinking score is lower in comparison with nursing student which these finding are an alarm for nursing managers. These findings suggest that nurses and nursing students still are not have desirable and necessary qualifications to decide about patient's affairs. So, it is necessary to provide a condition for further development of nursing professional competences and among them moral reasoning development.