Profiles of moral sensitivity and their associated factors in nursing students: A latent profile analysis

IF 3.3 3区医学 Q1 NURSING

Nurse Education in Practice Pub Date : 2025-03-01 DOI:10.1016/j.nepr.2025.104314

Chao Wen , Wen Huang , Yingyin Sun , Qing Luo , Chunqin Liu , Jiajian Xiao , Ling Yin

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Aim

This study was conducted to identify group profiles in moral sensitivity among Chinese nursing students and examine the factors associated with moral sensitivity subgroups.

Background

Moral sensitivity is a precondition for ethical decision making. Developing this sensitivity equips nursing students with the skills to identify and respond appropriately to ethical dilemmas, which are essential as they prepare to enter clinical settings. As integral members of the future nursing workforce, nursing students must be well prepared to navigate the ethical challenges they face.

Design

This study used a cross-sectional design.

Methods

Using convenience sampling, 716 nursing undergraduates from three universities in Jiangxi Province participated in this study. Participants completed online assessments of personality traits, empathy, professional nursing values and moral sensitivity. Latent profile analysis was used to identify moral sensitivity profiles and multinomial logistic regression was used to explore factors influencing distinct moral sensitivity profiles in nursing undergraduates.

Results

Results identified three profiles: “moral idealists” (9.7 %; high moral strength, moral burden; low moral responsibility), “moral undertakers” (32.0 %; moderate moral strength, moral burden; high moral responsibility), “moral skeptics” (58.3 %; low moral strength, moral burden and moral responsibility). Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that grade level, only child status, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, empathy and professional nursing values were associated with different profiles of moral sensitivity in nursing students.

Conclusion

Most undergraduate nursing students were placed in the moral skeptics group; thus, educational institutions should pay special attention to nursing students with low levels of moral sensitivity. Particular attention and additional support should be given to nursing students who are only children, in their lower academic years, exhibit neurotic traits and possess lower levels of agreeableness and conscientiousness. Educational activities and programs that prioritize empathy and professional nursing values may present a viable approach to fostering moral sensitivity among nursing students.

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来源期刊

Nurse Education in Practice NURSING-

CiteScore

5.40

自引率

9.40%

发文量

180

审稿时长

51 days

期刊介绍： Nurse Education in Practice enables lecturers and practitioners to both share and disseminate evidence that demonstrates the actual practice of education as it is experienced in the realities of their respective work environments. It is supportive of new authors and will be at the forefront in publishing individual and collaborative papers that demonstrate the link between education and practice.