Correlation between ethical sensitivity and humanistic care ability among undergraduate nursing students: a cross-sectional study

In nursing practice, a high level of ethical sensitivity and humanistic care ability must always be maintained. A limited number of studies have investigated the correlation between the level of ethical sensitivity and humanistic care ability of nursing students.

A survey study was conducted from November 2023 to January 2024 among 656 undergraduate nursing students using the General Information Questionnaire, Ethical Sensitivity Questionnaire For Nursing Students, and Humanistic Care Ability Inventory.

The total ethical sensitivity score of nursing students (36.01 ± 6.31) was positively correlated with the total humanistic care ability score (r = 0.426, P < 0.01), and the results of the multivariate linear regression analysis showed that grade, relationship with parents, liking of the nursing major, willingness to work in nursing, experiences in learning nursing ethics, experience of caring for patients, and humanistic care ability are the main influencing factors of nursing students’ ethical sensitivity.

The ethical sensitivity of undergraduate nursing students is at a moderate level, which shows a moderate and significant correlation with their humanistic care ability. College nursing educators and administrators should focus on integrating humanistic care ability education while increasing ethical education to cultivate excellent nursing students with comprehensive abilities.