The Nexus of Emotional Intelligence, Empathy, and Moral Sensitivity: Enhancing Ethical Nursing Practices in Clinical Settings

Background: Moral sensitivity is crucial for ethical decision-making in nursing, enabling nurses to respond appropriately to ethical dilemmas in clinical settings. Emotional intelligence and empathy have been identified as key factors influencing moral sensitivity. However, limited research examines the interplay between these variables, particularly in nursing practice.

Objective: This study explores the relationships between emotional intelligence, nursing empathy, and moral sensitivity among nurses in Mosul teaching hospitals and examines empathy’s mediating role in these relationships.

Methods: This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design. It involved 300 nurses from Mosul teaching hospitals in Iraq. Data collection occurred from July 1, 2024, to October 1, 2024. Validated measurement tools were used, including the Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS), the Jefferson Scale of Empathy, and the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire. Statistical analyses, including Pearson’s correlation, multiple regression, and mediation analysis, were conducted to examine the relationships among emotional intelligence, empathy, and moral sensitivity.

Results: Emotional intelligence and nursing empathy were significantly positively correlated with moral sensitivity (r = 0.58 and r = 0.66, respectively; p < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis revealed that both emotional intelligence (β = 0.30, p < 0.01) and nursing empathy (β = 0.52, p < 0.01) significantly predicted moral sensitivity, explaining 39% of the variance. Mediation analysis indicated that empathy partially mediated the relationship between emotional intelligence and moral sensitivity (p < 0.01).

Conclusion: This study highlights the significant roles of emotional intelligence and empathy in enhancing nurses’ moral sensitivity, with empathy acting as a partial mediator. Interventions that promote emotional intelligence and empathy development in nursing education and clinical practice could improve ethical decision-making and patient care quality. Further research is needed to explore these relationships longitudinally and in diverse healthcare settings.