A study on the persistence of nursing ethics education for nurses´ ethical decision making

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the change of effects of nursing ethics education on the nurses´ ethical decision making with the time relapse of one month, three months and six months. Method: Thirteen participated in free discussion group, and fourteen participated in expert-guided discussion group for five weeks. Two weeks before the education, DIT and JAND were assessed, and JAND was assessed again one month, three months and six months and six months after the five weeks´ education program. Results : 1) Average realistic scores of JAND did not showed significant differences as times went by. However, scores were highest at three months after the education in gerneral. 2) In both of free discussion and expert-guided discussion group, JAND score increased after the education, and highest at three months in general. 3) Low level moral development group showed highst scores at one month after the educaiton, and declined at three month. However, in middle and high level of moral development groups, scores were higher at three months than at one month after the education. Scores were declined again at six months after the education. Conclusion : Effects of moral education program were highest at three months after the education, and were lessened a times went by. Especially for the low moral development group, effect was not continued more than one month. Therefore, more persistent, periodic education program was required until the ability of ethical decision making is settled down.