Professional Self-Concept and Moral Sensitivity in Nursing Students: A Descriptive and Correlational Study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: This study was conducted to identify the professional self-concept and the related factors among student nurses studying at a nursing faculty and to investigate the relationship between moral sensitivity and the professional self-concept. METHODS: This was a descriptive and correlational study carried out on 381 nursing students. The Student Information Form, Professional Self-Concept Scale for the Student Nurses, and the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire were employed as the study tools. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: A weak and reverse relationship was found between the professional self-concept and moral sensitivity of nursing students. A decrease in moral sensitivity score was correlated with a high professional self-concept. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: There was a correlation between a decrease in moral sensitivity score and a high professional self-concept.

Keywords

• moral sensitivity
• nursing students
• nursing education
• professional self-concept