Influence of empathy and professional values on ethical decision-making of emergency nurses: A cross sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Emergency nurses are likely to experience serious ethical dilemmas and conflicts because of the dangerous and unpredictable care situations. Nursing ethical decision-making ability is therefore a core competence. Empathy and professional values may be the important variables that influence ethical decision-making. However, for emergency nurses, there is a lack of empirical evidence to support presently. This study aimed to explore the influence of empathy and professional values on nursing ethical decision-making of emergency nurses. METHODS: A convenience sample of 236 emergency nurses from 10 general hospitals in China were surveyed. Their ethical decision-making ability, empathy and professional values were measured using the Judgment About Nursing Decision scale, Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Professionals, and Nursing Professional Values Scale-Revised, respectively. Additionally, their sociodemographic data were collected. Univariate analysis, Pearson analysis, and multiple linear regression were performed. RESULTS: The mean ethical decision-making score of emergency nurses was 295.06 ± 26.49, which was medium level. Their average ethical choice score was higher than that of ethical action (P < 0.001). The multiple linear regression results showed that professional values (Standardized coefficients (ß) = 0.295, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.618-1.618), empathy (ß = 0.210, 95% CI: 0.620-1.613), job title (ß = 0.253, 95% CI: 0.357-2.800) and number of forms of in-service training on ethical decision-making (ß = 0.243, 95% CI: 0.254-3.942) were the independent factors significantly influencing the ethical decision-making ability. The multivariate linear regression model had an F statistic of 32.153 (P < 0.001) and an R2 = 0.588. CONCLUSIONS: Strengthening nurses' empathy and professional values can help nurses make ethical decisions. More clinical experience and in-service training on ethical decision-making can help emergency nurses better handle ethical dilemmas and conflicts.

Application of BOPPPS Mode in Medical Ethics Teaching / 中国医学伦理学

Based on the characteristics of BOPPPS mode,this article discussed its application.Following the teaching mode of BOPPPS,teachers can adjust teaching objectives and plans according to the students' needs.With the modularization of the teaching mode of BOPPPS,the students' interests can be stimulated so as to explore things initiatively,which was conducive to training students' ability of ethical decision-making and professional spirit.Finally,the teaching mode of BOPPPS assessed the learning effect with post-tests so as to enhance the effectiveness of medical ethics teaching.