The Effect of Emotional Intelligence on Ethical Decision‐Making Competence in Nursing Students: A Cross‐Sectional Study

This study aimed to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence and ethical decision‐making competence in nursing students and to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Ethical Decision‐Making Competence Scale (EDM‐CS) in the Turkish context. A descriptive‐predictive cross‐sectional design was used with 273 third‐ and fourth‐year nursing students from a public university. Data were collected using the Individual Information Form and Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire‐Short Form. Confirmatory factor analysis, Pearson correlation, and stepwise multiple regression analyses were conducted. Ethical decision‐making competence was significantly and positively correlated with emotional intelligence ( r = 0.486, p < 0.01). Regression analysis identified four significant predictors: emotional intelligence, self‐confidence in solving ethical problems, clinical setting, and academic year. Emotional intelligence emerged as the strongest predictor, explaining 36.1% of the variance in ethical competence. Nursing students' ethical decision‐making competence was at a good level and closely associated with emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence plays a central role in enhancing ethical awareness, motivation, and action. Educational strategies that promote emotional intelligence and reflective learning may strengthen students' ethical competence in clinical practice.