Table 3 Mean score of nurses’ moral courage (n = 172)
From: Professional competency and moral courage among staff nurses
Moral courage items | Mean | Std. Deviation | Level | Frequency | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Compassion and true presence (5 items) | |||||
1-I support a suffering patient by being truly present for him/her, even if it were to lead me to meeting my own inner fears | 2.83 | ± 0.701 | Low (21–63) | 50 | 29% |
2-Regardless of the care state, I try to encounter each patient as a dignified human being, even if someone else were to distress with my doing so | 3.30 | ± 1.205 |  | ||
3-Regardless of the care state, I seek to create a genuine human encounter with the patient, even though a more superficial relationship would be easier for me | 3.10 | ± 1.133 |  | ||
4-In order to ensure moral care for my patient I do not avoid even difficult | 2.91 | ± 0.942 |  | ||
5-I discuss the fears caused by the illness with my patient even if it would lead me to face my own inner fears. | 2.79 | ± 1.004 |  | ||
Moral responsibility (4 items) | |||||
6-I participate in the care team’s ethical decision-making regardless of somebody else | 3.13 | ± 1.287 |  | ||
7-I contribute in the care team’s ethical decision making ethical problem situations often involve doubt as to the right answer | 3.01 | ± 1.233 |  | ||
8-I bring up for discussion the patient’s right to good care if someone else* insists that I compromise on loyalty to the ethical principles of health care | 3.05 | ± 1.008 |  | ||
9-I participate in care team’s ethical decision-making ethical problematic situations often | 2.91 | ± 0.960 |  | ||
Moral integrity (7 items) | |||||
10-If someone else acts professionally unfairly (e.g., steals medication from the ward), I bring it up for discussion | 3.88 | ± 1.229 | Moderate (64–78) (106–131) | 100 | 58.2% |
11-If someone else tries to cover up an evident care error he/she has made, I bring it up for discussion | 2.86 | ± 1.181 |  | ||
12-I adhere to professional ethical principles even if I were to be bullied for it in my work unit | 2.88 | ± 1.205 |  | ||
13-I bring up for conversation an ethical problem situation that arises in nursing care even if someone else wants to remain silent about it | 2.89 | ± 1.249 |  | ||
14-If someone else acts unethically, I bring it up for discussion, even if I were to get negative feedback for it in my public work | 3.24 | ± 1.314 |  | ||
15-I acknowledge my own mistakes in care (e.g., administering the wrong medication to a patient) | 2.88 | ± 1.290 |  | ||
16-I act in accordance with professional ethical values even if someone else. | 2.93 | ± 1.417 |  | ||
Commitment to good care (5 items) | |||||
17-I am even prepared to break predominant care practices to advocate my patient (e.g., to exceed the standard length of time prescribed for a care procedure if it is inadequate for good care) | 2.99 | ± 1.368 | High (79–105) | 22 | 12.8 |
18-If the resources required for ensuring good care are insufficient (e.g., inadequate staff) I bring it up for discussion | 3.12 | ± 1.583 |  | ||
19-If I observe evident deficiencies in someone else’s professional competence, I bring it up for discussion | 2.99 | ± 1.481 |  | ||
20-someone else compromises on adherence to the ethical principles of health care (human self-respect, independence, and justice) | 3.02 | ± 1.663 |  | ||
21- I do not compromise on my patient’s right to good care even though someone else were to bully me into doing so | 3.09 | ± 1.781 |  | ||