Comparison of the correlation between moral sensitivity and clinical competence in emergency and intensive care nurses: A cross-sectional-correlation study.

INTRODUCTION: Nurses' sensitivity to moral issues, especially in emergency and intensive care units is essential for providing complex nursing care. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the correlation between moral sensitivity and clinical competence in emergency and intensive care nurses.

METHODS: The present multi-center cross-sectional correlational study was conducted in 2022 on 180 nurses in five emergency departments and four intensive care units of general hospitals affiliated to Semnan University of Medical sciences. The study tools include a demographic questionnaire, 25 item Lutzen Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire (MSQ), and a standardized Competency Inventory for Registered Nurses (CIRN). Data were analyzed by mean, standard deviation and MANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient test.

RESULTS: The two groups did not have significant differences in demographic characteristics (p < 0.05). Majority of two emergency department nurses (83.9%) and Intensive care nurses (81.8%) had a moderate level of moral sensitivity. Also, clinical competence of majority of emergency department nurses (73.3%) and Intensive care nurses (75.8%) were in moderate level. There was significant positive relationship between moral sensitivity with Clinical competence in emergency department nurses (p ≤ 0.01, r = 0.61). No significant relationship was observed between moral sensitivity and the clinical competence of intensive care nurses (p > 0.05, r = 0.15).

CONCLUSIONS: There is need for improving the level of knowledge of nurses about moral principles and increasing moral sensitivity which can expand the components of clinical competence, especially in intensive care units.