Ethical Behaviors of Nurses as Perceived by Clients in a University Hospital

Abstract

This descriptive research aim to study ethical behavior of nurses and opinions regarding the promotion of nurse ethical behaviors as perceived by clients in a university hospital. The study sample included 405 clients of the inpatient department of a university hospital. The research instruments composed of 3 parts, general information, ethical behaviors as perceived by clients and the opinions regarding the promoting of nurse ethical behaviors.The content validity index was 0.95 and the reliability was 0.97. Statistics used for data analysis were mean, standard deviation and percentage. Findings revealed that the overall score of nurses’ ethical behavior as perceived by clients was at a high level ( = 4.45, S.D. = 0.78). Each dimension score of nurses’ ethical behavior was at high level including justice ( = 4.59, S.D. = 0.66) non-maleficence (  = 4.45, S.D. = 0.79) respect for autonomy ( = 4.45, S.D. = 0.77), veracity (  = 4.44, S.D.= 0.80) fidelity ( = 4.42, S.D.= 0.85) and beneficence ( = 4.38, S.D. = 0.79). The opinions of clients regarding the promotion of nurses’ ethical behaviors included 1) providing of good services, 2) providing information about medical care rights and information about symptoms or treatments, 3) fair and equal care, 4) nursing care and help in activities of daily living. Nursing administrators can use these results as database for promoting and developing nurse’s behavior ethical.