Effects of Clinical Nurses' Ethical Climate and Ethical Nursing Competence on Moral Distress
10.11111/jkana.2025.31.1.25
- Author:
Sun Mi HA
1
;
Yeong Ju YOON
Author Information
1. Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, Gimcheon University
- Publication Type:ORIGINAL ARTICLE
- From:Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
2025;31(1):25-35
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Purpose:This study aimed to identify the effects of clinical nurses' ethical climate and ethical nursing competence on moral distress.
Methods:The participants were clinical nurses who provided direct nursing care; nurses with more than one year of work experience in general hospitals were targeted. The data were collected between January 3 and 19, 2024, and analyzed using t-test, analysis of variance, Games-Howell test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple regression.
Results:Moral distress was significantly and negatively correlated with ethical climate and ethical nursing competence. Factors affecting the moral distress of clinical nurses included having a position of charge nurse or higher, total clinical experience of more than 20 years, turnover intention from current job due to ethical issues, hospital sub factors of the ethical climate, and ethical behavior sub factors of ethical nursing competence, showing 27.0% explanatory power.
Conclusion:Establishing a positive ethical climate and improving ethical nursing competence providing opportunities for nurses to raise and solve ethical issues will contribute to resolving nurses' ethical conflicts and reducing moral distress.
