Correlation of nurses’ and midwives’ stress of conscience with hospital ethical climate and moral sensitivity

Abstract Stress of conscience (SC) in healthcare professionals results from conflicts with ethical beliefs due to work constraints, while moral sensitivity (MS) and a positive ethical climate (EC) are crucial for ethical decision-making and quality patient care. The aim of the study was to assess co...

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Main Authors: Magdalena Dziurka, Anna Jedynak, Krzysztof Jurek, Beata Dobrowolska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02180-y
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author Magdalena Dziurka
Anna Jedynak
Krzysztof Jurek
Beata Dobrowolska
author_facet Magdalena Dziurka
Anna Jedynak
Krzysztof Jurek
Beata Dobrowolska
author_sort Magdalena Dziurka
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Stress of conscience (SC) in healthcare professionals results from conflicts with ethical beliefs due to work constraints, while moral sensitivity (MS) and a positive ethical climate (EC) are crucial for ethical decision-making and quality patient care. The aim of the study was to assess correlation of the hospital EC, MS and SC among nurses, midwives; to assess psychometric properties of the Polish version of the Stress of Conscience Questionnaire (SCQ). An cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2019 to December 2020 among 683 nurses, midwives working at the hospital. The internal consistency reliability of the SCQ was satisfactory (0.837). A two-factor solution explained 54.26% of the total variance. The intensity of SC among the nurses, midwives increased with the deterioration of selected indicators of the EC of the hospital relationships with managers, the hospital, doctors; deterioration of relationships in these areas increased the subjects’ SC, while the overall indicator of the EC of the hospital remained independent of the intensity of SC. Respondents’ MS were higher the more EC of the hospital in which they worked was. Supporting a culture that values ethics and positive communication among healthcare professionals can create environments that enhance professional satisfaction and prioritize patient-oriented care.
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spelling doaj-art-e49fd0ca39e6485c8f2e21eb73ba0b632025-08-20T03:08:40ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-02180-yCorrelation of nurses’ and midwives’ stress of conscience with hospital ethical climate and moral sensitivityMagdalena Dziurka0Anna Jedynak1Krzysztof Jurek2Beata Dobrowolska3Department of Holistic Care and Management in Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of LublinProvincial Polyclinical Hospital in SkierniewiceInstitute of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, John Paul II Catholic University of LublinDepartment of Holistic Care and Management in Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of LublinAbstract Stress of conscience (SC) in healthcare professionals results from conflicts with ethical beliefs due to work constraints, while moral sensitivity (MS) and a positive ethical climate (EC) are crucial for ethical decision-making and quality patient care. The aim of the study was to assess correlation of the hospital EC, MS and SC among nurses, midwives; to assess psychometric properties of the Polish version of the Stress of Conscience Questionnaire (SCQ). An cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2019 to December 2020 among 683 nurses, midwives working at the hospital. The internal consistency reliability of the SCQ was satisfactory (0.837). A two-factor solution explained 54.26% of the total variance. The intensity of SC among the nurses, midwives increased with the deterioration of selected indicators of the EC of the hospital relationships with managers, the hospital, doctors; deterioration of relationships in these areas increased the subjects’ SC, while the overall indicator of the EC of the hospital remained independent of the intensity of SC. Respondents’ MS were higher the more EC of the hospital in which they worked was. Supporting a culture that values ethics and positive communication among healthcare professionals can create environments that enhance professional satisfaction and prioritize patient-oriented care.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02180-yStress of conscienceMoral sensitivityHospital ethical climateNursesMidwives
spellingShingle Magdalena Dziurka
Anna Jedynak
Krzysztof Jurek
Beata Dobrowolska
Correlation of nurses’ and midwives’ stress of conscience with hospital ethical climate and moral sensitivity
Scientific Reports
Stress of conscience
Moral sensitivity
Hospital ethical climate
Nurses
Midwives
title Correlation of nurses’ and midwives’ stress of conscience with hospital ethical climate and moral sensitivity
title_full Correlation of nurses’ and midwives’ stress of conscience with hospital ethical climate and moral sensitivity
title_fullStr Correlation of nurses’ and midwives’ stress of conscience with hospital ethical climate and moral sensitivity
title_full_unstemmed Correlation of nurses’ and midwives’ stress of conscience with hospital ethical climate and moral sensitivity
title_short Correlation of nurses’ and midwives’ stress of conscience with hospital ethical climate and moral sensitivity
title_sort correlation of nurses and midwives stress of conscience with hospital ethical climate and moral sensitivity
topic Stress of conscience
Moral sensitivity
Hospital ethical climate
Nurses
Midwives
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02180-y
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AT krzysztofjurek correlationofnursesandmidwivesstressofconsciencewithhospitalethicalclimateandmoralsensitivity
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