Abstract:

Objective: The present study was performed to determine the ethical sensitivities of nurses working in operating room. Material and Method: A total of 124 nurses working in the operating rooms of a university hospital and a hospital affiliated by the Ministry of Health, both were located in Izmir, were included in this descriptive study. The data of the study were collected by using a structured sociodemographic form and "Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire". Results: It was determined that 82.3% of the nurses were women, 58.1% were married, and 67.7% were undergraduate graduates. It was found that 72.6% of the participants received ethics training, 52.4% had ethical problems, and 81.5% of the nurses who had ethical problems were not able to solve their ethical problems. The mean score of the "Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire" was determined as 89.59±22.91. A statistically significant difference (p<0.05) was found between the independent variables of the type of the graduated school and receiving ethics education, and ethical sensitivity. Conclusion: The ethical sensitivity of the operating room nurses who were participated in the present study was moderate. Sex, marital status, working year, and having ethical problems did not have an affect on ethical sensitivity, however, the type of the graduated school and receiving ethics education had an affect on their ethical sensitivity.

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