The relationship between ethical sensitivity and individualized care perception of intensive care nurse

The research was conducted to determine the relationship between the ethical sensitivities of intensive care nurses and their perceptions of individualized care. The population of the descriptive and correlation-seeking study consisted of all intensive care nurses working in adult intensive care units (ICUs) in two Training and Research Hospitals affiliated with the Ministry of Health and University (N = 370). The study group consisted of nurses working in the adult ICUs of the institutions where the research was conducted and who volunteered to participate in the research (n=242). "Structured Information Form", "Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire" (MSQ) and "Individualized Care Scale A –Nurse Version" (ICS-Nurse) were used to collect data. An increase in the score obtained from MSQ indicates low ethical sensitivity, and an increase in the score obtained from ICS indicates a high perception of supporting patients' individuality. Data analysis was done using a computerized statistical program (IBM® SPSS® 29.0 version) and frequency, percentage, relationship, reliability and moderator variable analyses. It was determined that the ethical sensitivity of ICU nurses was at a medium level (93.53±18.78) and their perception of supporting individualized care was at a good level (3.89±0.72). It was observed that ethical sensitivity increased with the nurse's age and the length of time she worked in the ICU. At the same time, choosing the profession willingly, working in the postoperative ICU, being satisfied with the working environment, and receiving ethics training increased ethical sensitivity. It was determined that as nurses' age, total working time in the profession and time working in the ICU increased, their support for individualized care in decision-making decreased, while nurses who encountered ethical problems and thought they provided individualized care increased their support for individualized care. It was found that as the ethical sensitivity of ICU nurses increased, their perception of supporting individualized care increased (r=-0.128, p<0.05). As a result, it was determined that the nurses' ethical sensitivity level was at a medium level, their individualized care perceptions were at a good level, and there was a negatively supportive relationship between them. It was determined that ethical sensitivity and perception of individualized care were affected by individual characteristics such as age, as well as professional/working characteristics such as working time in the ICU, satisfaction with the working environment, etc. Considering that increasing ethical sensitivity will affect the perception of individualized care and therefore the quality of nursing care, it is important to support nurses with conferences, seminars and in-service training programs on the subject.