Caring behaviors, moral sensitivity, and emotional intelligence in intensive care nurses: A descriptive study

The relationship between subjective compliance with isolation precautions and moral sensitivity in novice nurses: cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Increasing compliance with isolation precautions is important in reducing hospital-acquired infections and their consequences. It is not possible to achieve and maintain nurse compliance through supervision, control, pressure, or training. Therefore, nurses must personally demand compliance with isolation precautions. This study aimed to determine the relationship between compliance with isolation precautions and the moral sensitivity levels of nurses who have just started working.

METHODS

This study employed a descriptive and cross-sectional research design. The study population consisted of 456 new nurses recruited during the pandemic. All of the new nurses who volunteered to participate in the study and completed the questionnaires completely were included in the study and 398 nurses constituted the sample of the study. Data were collected from 398 out of 456 novice nurses who agreed to participate in the study. The population coverage rate was 87.28%. Participants were selected using convenience sampling method. The data collection tools included an Introductory Information Form, The Isolation Compliance Precautions Scale (TIPCS), and the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire (MSQ). Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and regression models were used to analyze data.

FINDINGS

The mean score of the MSQ was high (mean ± SD = 90.49 ± 25.94; median (P25-P75) = 84 (range, 74-97), and the score for TIPCS was high (mean ± SD = 79.29 ± 7.68; median (P25-P75) = 82 (range, 76-85)). No correlation was found between MSQ and TIPCS (p > 0.05). According to the regression analysis, although the MSQ did not correlate with TIPCS, compliance with isolation measures was found to increase as the conflict subscale of moral sensitivity increased (β= -0.36, CI= -0.55 to -0.16; p < 0.001). Choosing the profession willingly had a positive correlation with compliance with isolation measures (β = 5.3, CI = 2.4 to 8.3; p < 0.001). In addition, starting the profession at an early age had a positive correlation with compliance with isolation measures (β= -0.49, CI= -0.8 to -0.17; p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

The conflict sub-dimension of moral sensitivity is an important factor in nurses' compliance with isolation measures, and conducting necessary training and other studies to improve nurses' moral sensitivity may increase their compliance with isolation measures.

Profiling health professionals' personality traits, behaviour styles and emotional intelligence: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Non-cognitive traits have been theorised to predict characteristics, career choice and outcomes of health professionals and could represent a homogenous group. This study aims to profile and compare personality traits, behaviour styles and emotional intelligence of health practitioners across a variety of professions.

METHODS

Empirical literature was systematically reviewed. A two-concept search strategy was applied to four databases (CINAHL, PubMed, Embase, ProQuest). Title/abstract and full text articles were screened against inclusion and exclusion criteria. Methodological quality was assessed using Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Data was synthesised narratively and meta-aggregated where feasible.

RESULTS

Three hundred twenty-one studies representing 153 assessment tools of personality (n = 83 studies), behaviour (n = 8), and emotional intelligence (n = 62) were included. Most studies (n = 171) explored personality (medicine, nursing, nursing assistants, dentistry, allied health, paramedics), revealing variation in traits across professions. Behaviour styles were least measured with only ten studies exploring these across four health professions (nursing, medicine, occupational therapy, psychology). Emotional intelligence (n = 146 studies) varied amongst professions (medicine, nursing, dentistry, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, radiology) with all exhibiting average to above-average scores.

CONCLUSION

Personality traits, behaviour styles and emotional intelligence are all key characteristics of health professionals reported in the literature. There is both heterogeneity and homogeneity within and between professional groups. The characterisation and understanding of these non-cognitive traits will aid health professionals to understand their own non-cognitive features and how these might be useful in predicting performance with potential to adapt these to enhance success within their chosen profession.

The ethical principles and caring behavior of Indonesian nurses

Introduction: The caring behavior of nurses affects their working performance and the health care quality received by patients. The adherence to ethical principles by nurses is also known to increase this factor. However, no previous studies have been conducted on how ethical principles affect the caring behaviors of nurses. Hence, this study aims to investigate the association between nursing ethics and other demographic characteristics and their caring behavior in Indonesian hospitals. Design and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted with 389 nurses working in Indonesian hospitals. Furthermore, data were collected using questionnaires, which included demographic characteristics, ethical principles-based attitudes, and caring behavior. The analysis of the data was performed using descriptive (M, SD) and inferential statistics (Chi-square, Spearman’s rank correlation, Fisher’s exact test, and multiple logistic regression) with α= 0.05. Results: According to this study, the caring behavior of nurses was associated with gender (p=0.030) and nursing ethical principles, such as veracity (p=0.025), non-maleficence (p=0.007), beneficence (p<0.000), and fidelity (p<0.000). Fidelity was also revealed as the most influential ethical principle on nurses’ caring behavior, with a value of Exp(B)= 3.446. This indicates that nurses, who had demonstrated good fidelity, cared three times more than those who lacked this quality. Conclusions: Nurses with good ethical principles deliver suitable caring behavior. Hence, applying the right ethics to a patient would result in a great caring attitude, as the principle of ethical behavior is compassion and respectful conduct towards patients.  

Critical Care Nurses' Adherence to Ethical Codes and Its Association with Spiritual Well-Being and Moral Sensitivity

Background

Adherence to ethical codes is a major pillar of nursing care that is affected by various factors. Identifying these factors can lead to better ethical performance. The present study was conducted to determine critical care nurses' adherence to ethical codes and its association with spiritual well-being (SWB) and moral sensitivity (MS).

Methods

In this descriptive-correlational study, data were collected using the moral sensitivity questionnaire (MSQ) by Lützén et al., Paloutzian and Ellison's spiritual well-being scale (SWBS), and the adherence to ethical codes questionnaire. The study was conducted on 298 nurses working in critical care units of hospitals affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in southern Iran in 2019. This study was examined and approved by the Ethics Committee of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.

Results

The majority of the participants were female (76.2%) and single (60.1%), with a mean age of 30.69 ± 5.74 years. The mean scores of adherence to ethical codes, SWB, and MS were 64.06 (good), 91.94 (moderate), and 134.08 (moderate), respectively. Adherence to ethical codes had a positive correlation with the total score of SWB (P < 0.001, r = 0.25) and MS (P < 0.001, r = 0.27). A positive correlation was also observed between MS and SWB (P < 0.001, r = 0.41). Meanwhile, MS (β = 0.21) had a greater effect than SWB (β = 0.157) on adherence to ethical codes.

Conclusion

Critical care nurses showed a good adherence to ethical codes. MS and SWB also positively affected their adherence to ethical codes. Nursing managers can use these findings to devise plans for the promotion of MS and SWB in nurses and thus help improve their ethical performance.

Level of Social Competencies of Nurses in Primary Healthcare and their Selected Work Related Determinants - a cross-sectional study

AIM

The aim of our study was to assess the level of social competencies among primary healthcare nurses, and to identify the work-related determinants.

BACKGROUND

Developing social skills of nurses are necessary to establish better relations with patients. Improving these skills allows for higher quality of patient care, as well as patient and nurse satisfaction.

METHODS

For the study, 253 Primary Healthcare Centers were randomly chosen in the Eastern Poland. 600 questionnaires were sent to the nurses employed in these facilities. After checking whether the data met the requirements, 446 nurses took part in the survey. The data were collected using the Social Competencies Profile; the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire and the Catalog of primary healthcare nurse activities.

RESULTS

Older nurses possess lower level of social skills (r=-0.10, p=0.04). Postgraduate education in the last two years differentiated the results of social competencies (p=0.03) as well as place of residence in the subscale community awareness (p=0.04). The predictors of social skills among psychosocial work conditions were: Influence at Work (p=0.02), Possibilities for Development (p<0.001), Meaning of Work (p<0.001), Social Support (p=0.001), Quality of Leadership (p=0.03), Job Satisfaction (p<0.001) and General Health (p=0.001). On the other hand, tasks like: Activities in the treatment room (p=0.003) and Promotion and prevention (p<0.001) carried out by a nurse anticipated higher level of social skills.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the research proved that work-related factors such as: influence at work, professional development, sense of social support, understanding of the meaning of work, perception of the quality of leadership and higher job satisfaction influence the development of social competencies of nurses, therefore, shaping an appropriate work environment is an important task, especially for leaders and managers of nursing.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

We recommend that nursing leaders and health policy makers adopt new strategies and educational programs which include social skills training as part of the curriculum for the development of the social competencies of nurses.

The relationship between moral sensitivity and caring behavior among nurses in iran during COVID-19 pandemic

Background

Caring for patients during a pandemic can be difficult for healthcare workers, the patients themselves, and healthcare systems. Nurses are expected to recognize ethical dilemmas and make sound judgments when confronted with them. Sensitizing nurses to ethical issues strengthen their ability to identify ethical dilemmas and make ethical choices. As a result, this study aimed to determine a relationship between moral sensitivity and caring behavior among nurses during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Method

The current study is a cross-sectional study of 406 nurses who worked in a single hospital during the COVID-19 epidemic. We used a demographic questionnaire and the caring behavior inventory (CBI) tool to collect data online. The data were analyzed using descriptive and correlational statistics.

Findings

Eighty-three point seven percent of participants in this study were female, and 71.9% were married. 47.5% reported caring for a COVID-19 patient for longer than a month; their average work experience was 13.1 years. Additionally, Moral Sensitivity correlated positively with caring behavior and its dimensions (r = 0.164, P = 0.001). However, a significant and inverse link existed between the dimension "following the rules" and the nurse's caring conduct (r = -0.117, P = 0.019).

Conclusion

During the pandemic, nurses' moral sensitivity was moderate and significantly connected with their caring behavior. Because nurses encounter numerous obstacles while caring for patients in critical conditions, they require ethical empowerment to perform correctly, as caring behavior improves with increased moral sensitivity.

Moral sensitivity and person-centered care among mental health nurses in South Korea: A cross-sectional study

AIM

To identify the predictors of mental health nurses' person-centered care, including moral sensitivity.

BACKGROUND

Person-centered care meets patients' ethical needs by protecting their autonomy and dignity, and respecting their choices; it is essential to enhance patient outcomes. Therefore, it is important to identify the predictors of the practice of advocating patients' rights and dignity, and providing person-centered care among mental health nurses to foster competency and ensure the highest quality of care.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 220 mental health nurses in South Korea. It measured their general and work-related characteristics, moral sensitivity, and person-centered care. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify the person-centered care predictors.

RESULTS

The most potent person-centered care predictor was moral sensitivity (β=.35, p<.001). Other predictors included prior biomedical ethics education (β=.15, p=.013) and marital status (β=.14, p=.025). The regression model had 28.0% explanatory power.

CONCLUSIONS

Mental health nurses' moral sensitivity must be increased to improve their person-centered care.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Nurses should receive continuous education to remain aware of and maintain a high level of moral sensitivity and be encouraged to continue the person-centered practice. Organizational and policy support is needed to promote the practice of person-centered care in the workplace.

Impact of nurses' emotional intelligence on the implementation of a professional practice model in cancer care

AIM

To examine the impact of emotional intelligence on the effective implementation of a professional practice model in a specialised cancer centre.

METHODS

The study used a cross-sectional design with 580 frontline nurses at King Hussein Cancer Center, Jordan. The sample was selected using a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected using two self-administered questionnaires to measure emotional intelligence and professional practice.

RESULTS

The overall mean value of emotional intelligence was 5.60 out of 6 (SD=0.78), while the overall mean value for the implementation of the professional practice model was 4.76/5 (SD=0.59). The results showed that the overall mean value of emotional intelligence had a significant positive correlation with the effective implementation of the professional practice model (r=0.580, P<0.001), even after adjusting for the participants' demographics (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Emotional intelligence can be considered a predictor for the effective implementation of a professional practice model.

Self-compassion influences the caring behaviour and compassion competence among saudi nursing students: A multi-university study

AIM

This research investigated the perceptions of Saudi nursing students regarding self-compassion and examined its influence on their caring behaviour and compassion competence.

DESIGN

This is a quantitative and cross-sectional study.

METHODS

This multiuniversity study surveyed a convenience sample of 961 nursing using the Self-compassion Scale, Compassion Competence Scale and Caring Behavior Inventory-16 version. Standard multiple analysis was performed separately for caring behaviour and compassion competence as dependent variables. For both models, the self-compassion dimensions and the demographic variables were considered predictor variables.

RESULTS

The students reported their self-compassion moderately, with mindfulness receiving the highest mean and self-judgment receiving the lowest mean. Significant differences were observed on self-compassion of students between universities. Caring behaviour and compassion competence were also rated moderately by the students. "Self-kindness" and "common humanity" were identified as significant predictors of caring behaviour, whereas "self-kindness," "self-judgment," "common humanity" and "mindfulness" were significant predictors of compassion competence.