Does ethics education influence the moral action of practicing nurses and social workers?

Full Abstract

PURPOSE/METHODS: This study investigated the relationship between ethics education and training, and the use and usefulness of ethics resources, confidence in moral decisions, and moral action/activism through a survey of practicing nurses and social workers from four United States (US) census regions. FINDINGS: The sample (n = 1215) was primarily Caucasian (83%), female (85%), well educated (57% with a master's degree). no ethics education at all was reported by 14% of study participants (8% of social workers had no ethics education, versus 23% of nurses), and only 57% of participants had ethics education in their professional educational program. Those with both professional ethics education and in-service or continuing education were more confident in their moral judgments and more likely to use ethics resources and to take moral action. Social workers had more overall education, more ethics education, and higher confidence and moral action scores, and were more likely to use ethics resources than nurses. CONCLUSION: Ethics education has a significant positive influence on moral confidence, moral action, and use of ethics resources by nurses and social workers.

Author information

Author/s: Grady, Christine (C); Danis, Marion (M); Soeken, Karen L (KL); O'Donnell, Patricia (P); Taylor, Carol (C); Farrar, Adrienne (A); Ulrich, Connie M (CM);

Affiliation: Department of Clinical Bioethics, National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. cgrady(-atsign-)cc.nih.gov

Grants: Z01 CL010523-05 (Agency:CLC NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: The American journal of bioethics : AJOB (Am J Bioeth), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Apr; vol 8 (issue 4) : pp 4-11

Dates: Created 2008/06/25; Completed 2008/08/25; Revised 2009/04/29;

PMID: 18576241, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 4/30/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: Am J Bioeth. 2008 Apr;8(4):12-3; author reply W1-2. (PMID: 18576242)

CommentIn: Am J Bioeth. 2008 Apr;8(4):14-5; author reply W1-2. (PMID: 18576243)

CommentIn: Am J Bioeth. 2008 Apr;8(4):15-7; author reply W1-2. (PMID: 18576244)

CommentIn: Am J Bioeth. 2008 Apr;8(4):17-9; author reply W1-2. (PMID: 18576245)

CommentIn: Am J Bioeth. 2008 Apr;8(4):19-21; author reply W1-2. (PMID: 18576246)

CommentIn: Am J Bioeth. 2008 Apr;8(4):21-3; author reply W1-2. (PMID: 18576247)

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