Fostering Ethical Competence in Nursing: The Vital Role of Nurse Instructors

Abstract

Background: Teaching ethics to nurses is crucial in enhancing the quality of care they provide, enabling them to effectively navigate ethical challenges. Among the essential components of educational systems, nursing instructors hold significant importance. Despite existing studies highlighting instructors' role in student learning, their contribution to promoting professional ethics remains relatively underexplored. This study aims to investigate the experiences of nursing students regarding the influence of instructors on the advancement of professional ethics. The research focuses on the context of Pakistani nurses within Koohi Goth Women's Hospital.
Methodology: In this qualitative study, 15 undergraduate nursing students from Koohi Goth Women's Hospital participated. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted to gather data. Open-ended questions facilitated discussions on the role of instructors in fostering professional ethics. Qualitative content analysis was employed to analyze the collected data.
Results: The analysis of data revealed two primary themes and seven subcategories relating to the impact of instructors on the enhancement of professional ethics among nursing students: Effective Professional Role Models encompassing Individual Characteristics and Beliefs, Clinical Skills Demonstration, and Professional Commitment of Role Models; and Facilitating Creative Learning including Encouragement of Critical Thinking and Decision-Making, Provision of Supportive Learning Environments, Creation of Space for Knowledge Sharing, and Evaluation and Constructive Feedback.
Conclusion: This study underscores the significant role of nursing instructors in promoting professional ethics among nursing students at Koohi Goth Women Hospital in Pakistan. The findings emphasize the need to enhance instructors' capabilities through research and training programs within nursing education centers. Strengthening instructors' role in ethical education can contribute to the development of morally adept nurses, thus improving the overall quality of patient care.