Development of clinical ethical behaviors of professional nurses

Abstract

This action research aimed to Study the problems concerning the clinical ethical behavior of professional nurses. Develop a model for enhancing the clinical ethical behavior of professional nurses. Examine the outcomes of the model for developing the clinical ethical behavior of professional nurses.

The sample group consisted of professional nurses working in the inpatient department at Mae Chan Hospital and new patients admitted to Mae Chan Hospital, who were purposively selected based on specific criteria. Data were gathered using questionnaires on perceived and actual ethical behavior, in-depth interviews, and the developed model. Analysis involved content analysis descriptive statistics and paired samples t-tests to compare before-and-after the development.

The research findings revealed that obstacles to ethical development included: an unsupportive organizational climate for ethical practice, excessive nursing workload, lack of knowledge and skills in professional ethics, lack of awareness regarding ethical risks, and insufficient clinical ethical courage. These findings led to the development of a Clinical Ethical Behavior Development Model for Professional Nurses (Maechan Moral Model: 3M), comprising four key approaches: 1) creating a supportive organizational climate and managing nursing workload; 2) strengthening knowledge and skills in professional ethics; 3) enhancing awareness of clinical ethical risks; and 4) cultivating clinical ethical courage.

The outcomes of the developed model for enhancing professional nurses' clinical ethical behavior showed that: Patients' perceptions of nurses' ethical behavior (t=5.008, p=0.000) and nurses' self-reported ethical behavior (t=4.054, p=0.000) were both significantly higher after the intervention (p < 0.05) Recommendations: The developed model (Maechan Moral Model: 3M) be refined into a professional ethics program and adopted by nursing organizations to drive the ethical mechanisms.