Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40165264›Full record

ArticleBMC nursing2025

Analysis of the current status and influencing factors of moral courage among operating room nurses in Southwest China: a multi-center study.

Xiao Hu, Yu Long, Chenfang Wang, Jianping Yi, Feng Peng, Yidi Chen

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Article in BMC nursing, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

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4citing papers in PubMed
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4 citing papers in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Xiao HuMedical Simulator Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No. 6 Shuangyong Road, Qingxiu District, Nanning, 530021, China.
Yu LongMedical Simulator Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No. 6 Shuangyong Road, Qingxiu District, Nanning, 530021, China.
Chenfang WangDepartment of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, No. 278 Baoguang Avenue, Xindu District, Chengdu, 610500, China.
Jianping YiSterilization and Supply Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, No. 278 Baoguang Avenue, Xindu District, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610500, China.
Feng PengDepartment of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, No. 278 Baoguang Avenue, Xindu District, Chengdu, 610500, China. 752224473@qq.com.
Yidi ChenDepartment of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No. 6 Shuangyong Road, Qingxiu District, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, China. chenyidi1152@126.com.

Funding

Key Research and Development Project of Hainan Province ZDYF2024SHFZ052Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 2025GXNSFAA069531
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMoral courage is crucial for nurses to act ethically despite professional risks. Operating room (OR) nurses frequently encounter ethical dilemmas, requiring a balance between personal convictions and institutional policies. This study investigates the current status of moral courage among OR nurses in Southwest China and explores key influencing factors. MATERIALS AND

methodsThe cross-sectional, multi-center study was conducted from April to May 2024. A total of 482 operating room nurses from 16 hospitals in Southwest China were surveyed. The nurses were assessed using a self-designed demographic questionnaire, the Nurses' Moral Courage Scale (NMCS), the Psychological Empowerment Scale (PES), and the Hospital Ethical Climate Survey (HECS). Statistical analyses, including Spearman's rho and multiple linear regression, were used to explore the relationships between nurses' moral courage and various influencing factors, such as age, educational level, income, professional title, psychological empowerment, and hospital ethical climate.

resultsThe total score for operating room nurses' moral courage in this study was 80.26 ± 19.30, with subscale scores as follows: moral integrity (26.89 ± 6.73), moral responsibility (15.33 ± 3.92), commitment to providing quality care to patients (18.81 ± 4.77), and compassion and genuine presence with patients (19.23 ± 4.86). The moral courage was positively correlated with age, hospital level, years of experience, professional title, income, psychological empowerment and hospital ethical climate score. The multiple linear regression analysis revealed that work meaning, autonomy, work impact, and relationships with nurses, patients, and the hospital being significant factors influencing moral courage. The correlation analysis showed no significant correlation between educational level and moral courage. Furthermore, although nurses with lower income had lower moral courage scores, there was no significant correlation between income satisfaction and moral courage.

conclusionPsychological empowerment and a positive hospital ethical climate are key determinants of moral courage among OR nurses. Hospitals should implement targeted interventions to enhance nurses' ethical decision-making capacities, foster professional autonomy, and strengthen interpersonal support networks to mitigate ethical distress. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

Indexed as

Ethical climateMoral courageMoral courage scaleOperating room nursesPsychological empowerment

Identifiers

PMID40165264
PMCPMC11959945

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