Perception of compassion and professional values in nursing students: A cross-sectional multivariate analysis from Turkey

Professional values gained in postgraduate nursing education from the perspectives of master's and doctorate graduates: A mixed-methods study

AIM

To determine the professional values of graduates of master's and doctoral programs in nursing and their views on the contribution of postgraduate education to their professional values.

BACKGROUND

In postgraduate education, which is an important catalyst of professional identity development, a professional is expected to specialize in a field, get into more depth professionally, internalize professional values, and reflect and strengthen these values. To shed light on this expectation, more information is needed to assess the impact of postgraduate education on professional values.

METHODS

A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was used. Data were collected for the quantitative part of the study for 385 graduates of postgraduate nursing education programs in Turkey who were selected using the snowball sampling method, while the maximum variation sampling method was used to collect data from 12 individuals for the qualitative part of the study. The Nurses Professional Values Scale (NPVS) and a Semi-Structured Interview Form were used to collect data in October-December 2022. The quantitative data obtained in the study were analyzed using the SPSS software, and the qualitative data were analyzed using the MAXQDA software.

RESULTS

The mean total NPVS score of the participants was 130.32 ± 21.34 (possible range: 31-155). Among all dimensions, the highest mean score of the participants was in the caring dimension, followed by professionalism and activism. There were significant differences in the NPVS total and subscale scores of the participants based on their views on the contributions of age, institution where they worked, marital status, position at work, and postgraduate education to the acquisition of professional values. In the qualitative dimension of the study, two main themes were identified. One of these themes was the theme of professional values in postgraduate nursing education that covered the categories of professional values gained through postgraduate education, professional values that a nurse who has completed postgraduate education should have, and professional values in postgraduate nursing education. The second theme was the theme named recommendations for providing nurses with professional values through postgraduate education. The integration of data from both components indicated that the qualitative interviews enriched the quantitative findings.

CONCLUSION

It was concluded that postgraduate nursing education programs contribute greatly to the professional values of graduates and strengthen their professional values.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY

For the future of nursing, increasing professional strengths and visibility is significantly associated with professional values. This situation requires nurses with strong professional values. Graduate education programs in nursing should be developed in this direction and focus on development of professional values.

The Relationship Between Religious Attitude, Compassion and Spiritual Care in Nursing Students: The Case of Türkiye

In the present descriptive study, we aimed to examine the relationship between the levels of religious attitude, compassion and spiritual care perception among nursing students. Data were obtained from 135 nursing students using the Socio-Demographic Diagnosis Form, the Ok-Religious Attitude Scale, the Compassion Scale, and the Spiritual Care-Giving Scale. The data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis H test, the Spearman correlation test, and the Mann-Whitney U test. A positive correlation was found between the scores of the Ok-religious attitude scale and cognition sub-dimension, emotion sub-dimension, behavior sub-dimension, god sub-dimension and compassion scale and spiritual care-giving scale scores. Furthermore, we observed that some socio-demographic, and nursing profession and spiritual care characteristics of the students affected their religious attitudes, compassion and spiritual care perception. The sub-dimension scores of compassion and awareness of sharing among female students and the mindfulness scores of students with nuclear families were high. Our data suggest that the course contents for spiritual care, which is an integral part of holistic nursing care, should be included in the nursing curriculum. Moreover, we recommend that efforts be made to maintain a high level of compassion while considering the socio-demographics of the students and their opinions on the nursing profession. Finally, the data presented here has the potential to serve as a valuable resource for the development of novel approaches to the provision of spiritual care within nursing education programs.

The relationship between professional values, ethical sensitivities and caring behaviors among nursing students: A structural equation modeling approach

AIM

To examine the relationship between professional values, ethical sensitivity and caring behaviors among nursing students and determine whether professional values play a moderator role in the relationship between ethical sensitivity and caring behaviors among nursing students.

BACKGROUND

Developing professional nursing values, ethical sensitivity and caring behaviors is critical in nursing programs from the first year to graduation to prepare students for increasingly complex and diverse work environments.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study using structural equation modeling. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology checklist was used.

METHODS

This study was conducted with 189 undergraduate nursing students. The study was conducted in a four-year nursing faculty in the Mediterranean region of Turkey from February to June 2022. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Nurses' Professional Values Scale, the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire and the Caring Behaviors Assessment Tool Nursing Version-Short Form.

RESULTS

We found that nursing students' perceptions of professional values and caring behaviors were high and their ethical sensitivity was moderate. Nursing students who are successful in high school have higher professional values. In addition, it was determined that nursing students who chose the nursing profession because of altruism had higher perceptions of caring behaviors. A positive relationship exists between professional values, ethical sensitivity (r = -0.258, p < 0.001) and caring behaviors (r = 0.431, p < 0.001) (p < 0.05). Professional values have a positive effect on ethical sensitivity and caring behaviors.

CONCLUSION

Professional values, ethical sensitivity and caring behaviors are relationships and professional values positively predict nursing students' ethical sensitivities and caring behaviors. As the professional value perceptions of nursing students increase, their ethical sensitivity and caring behaviors increase. Improving the curricula in a way that will improve professional values may enable nursing students to increase their ethical sensitivity and caring behaviors. The research contributes to a broader understanding of nursing education curriculum content.

Do the Compassion and Spirituality Levels of Turkish Nursing Students Influence their Attitudes Toward Organ Donation?

This study was a descriptive-correlational design which evaluated the relationship between compassion and spirituality levels and attitudes toward organ donation among Turkish nursing students. A sample of 296 participants studying in the nursing department of a foundation university in the spring semester of the 2021-2022 academic year was formed. A descriptive information form, Spirituality Scale, Compassion Scale, and Organ Donation Attitude Scale were used for data collection. Pearson correlation and multivariate regression analysis were used to evaluate scale scores. The compassion levels of students were high, their attitudes toward organ donation were positive and strong, and their level of spirituality ([Formula: see text]= 18.71 ± 6.10) was slightly above average. Higher levels of spirituality and compassion were positively correlated with positive attitudes toward organ donation (p < 0.05). The compassion and spirituality of nurses should be high for raising public awareness of organ donation.

Comparison of Professional Values Between Sophomore and Senior Nursing Students

This cross-sectional comparative survey aimed to determine the level differences of professional nursing values in sophomore and senior nursing students using a demographic form and the Nurses Professional Values Scale-3. The mean score for nursing professional values was significantly higher (p < .001) among senior students (111.02, SD = 15.12) than sophomore students (99.46, SD = 12.56). However, professional values in the professional dimension require improvement. To ensure that future nurses integrate these values into professional practice, nurse educators must teach professional values by adopting innovative approaches.

Factors affecting nurses' professional values: A comprehensive integrative review

OBJECTIVES

Values should inform the care every nurse provides. Professional values equally affect patient care and organizational outcomes. In addition, they aid in forming a basis for moral judgments. The aim of this review is to elucidate the whole spectrum of factors affecting the development of nurses' professional values.

DESIGN

An integrative review approach was chosen.

DATA SOURCE

The review included searches in four databases - MEDLINE Complete, CINAHL Plus, ERIC, and Scopus - from January 2015 to November 2021, 572 articles were screened resulting in 35 quantitative and qualitative articles that met the inclusion criteria and passed the critical appraisal.

RESULT

Five major themes and subthemes emerged from the review: Individual determinants was the first theme. Education was the second theme. Experience was the third theme. The fourth theme was nurses' values perceptions. The final theme dealt with the impact of role models.

CONCLUSION

Understanding the power of nursing values as an effective influencer of nursing practice is important because nurses' values can ensure high-quality care and strengthen the professional brand.

Perception of nursing students from the Middle East about caring: A descriptive, comparative, cross-sectional study

AIM

To investigate the perception of undergraduate nursing students in different countries in the Middle East about caring.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional, descriptive, comparative design.

METHODS

A total of 1,582 nursing students from six different countries in the Middle East completed the Caring Dimensions Inventory.

RESULTS

The total mean score of caring was 138.8 (± 15.8), indicating a high level of caring. The highest mean score was for nursing students from Egypt (M = 145.37 ± 15.97), whereas the lowest was for nursing students from Palestine (M = 135.36 ± 13.48). The caring perception was more significant for female students than male students, and no significant correlation was found between students' ages and caring scores.

CONCLUSIONS

The high level of caring among nursing students reflects the involvement of caring behaviour in the nursing curricula, which motivates nursing schools to continue stressing the importance of caring and to enhance this behaviour among their graduates.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

Improving the students' caring competencies as recommended by the study will influence the caregiving quality in the future that will be reflected in nurse-patient caring relationships and raise the patients' and public satisfaction with nursing care.

Does the compassion level of nursing students affect their ethical sensitivity?

AIM

This study aims to determine the nursing students' levels of compassion and ethical sensitivity and reveal the effect of the level of compassion on their ethical sensitivity.

METHOD

A descriptive study was carried out with 328 nursing students studying at a state university. Data were collected through the "Personal Information Form", "The Compassion Scale", and "The Modified Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire for Student Nurses (MMSQSN)".

RESULTS

The average compassion scale score was 4.14 ± 0.57 and the students' MMSQSN score average was 4.72 ± 0.85. A low level of positive correlation was determined between the compassion level of the students and their ethical sensitivity. Students' compassion level was found to be high and their ethical sensitivity was found to be neutral.

CONCLUSION

The increase in the level of compassion positively affects ethical sensitivity. In order to increase the level of compassion of students to increase their ethical sensitivity, practices that improve compassion and ethical sensitivity are required during their education.

Nurses' perceptions of caring activities in nursing

Aim

This study aimed to determine nurses' perceptions of caring activities in nursing.

Design

A descriptive study design.

Methods

A Turkish translation of the 25-item version of the Caring Dimensions Inventory was completed by 260 nurses working in one university hospital. Data were analysed using Mokken scaling.

Results

Technical aspects of nursing were highly endorsed items such as "observing the effects of a medication on a patient, measuring vital signs, being technically competent with a clinical procedure, consulting with the doctor" except for the item "providing privacy for a patient" which is a psychosocial item. The range of items included in the Mokken scale with "providing privacy for a patient" (mean = 4.31) as the most endorsed, and "exploring the patient's lifestyle" (mean = 2.60) being the least endorsed item. Listening to patients and involving them in their care are not considered as caring.