The Relationship between Moral Knowledge, Sensitivity and Performance of Nurses Working in Emergency Units

Moral knowledge and sensitivity are an inseparable part of the ethical decision-making process that can affect the performance of nurses. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between moral knowledge, sensitivity and performance of nurses working in the emergency units of educational hospitals in Alborz province, Iran. This descriptive-analytical study was carried out on 190 nurses working in the emergency units of educational hospitals in Alborz province, Iran in 2018. Census was used for Sampling was done in a completely randomized way. To collect data, moral awareness in nursing profession, moral sensitivity and performance questionnaires were used. Data were analyzed using t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation and regression by SPSS software 24. There was a significant relationship between moral knowledge and sensitivity (p<0.001), moral knowledge and performance (p=0.004), and moral sensitivity and performance (p=0.001). The level of moral knowledge, sensitivity and performance of the nurses was moderate. Moral knowledge and moral sensitivity were able to predict 8.6% and 28.7% of the variabilities of moral performance, respectively. The findings show that moral sensitivity is a more important predictor of moral performance than moral knowledge. Given that moral performance of nurses can improve by increasing the level of moral knowledge and sensitivity, it is recommended that managers of health centers put theoretical and practical training programs of professional ethics on their agenda.