How do ethically competent nurses behave in clinical nursing practice? A qualitative study

AIM: This study explored how ethically competent nurses behave in clinical nursing practice. BACKGROUND: Nurses' ethical competency is crucial in nursing practice as it promotes patients' safety and quality of care. METHODS: Using a purposive sampling technique, 20 clinical nurses in South Korea were interviewed via an online video platform. The data were analysed using a thematic analysis based on phenomenological approach. RESULTS: The main theme found among the participating nurses' ethical competency was caring beyond egocentrism, with two subthemes: (1) patient-centred care based on compassion and (2) responsible behaviour based on nursing professionalism. Factors that enabled this included (1) reasonable work conditions, (2) interpersonal relationships, and (3) nurses' rich personal experiences. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses' ethical competency depends on how far they can move away from their own egocentrism and act for their clients' benefit, wherein an appropriate workload and warm human relationships with one's colleagues are essential. Nurses should thus receive education on ethics and professionalism and participate in volunteer and leisure activities that cultivate their degree of empathy. IMPLICATION FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nursing leaders and managers should understand nurses' ethical competency and its enabling factors to devise effective strategies to promote it.