The relationship between nurses’ moral courage and professional values: the moderating effects of individual and work-related characteristics

Nurses frequently encounter ethical dilemmas and require moral courage to make decisions based on ethical values. Professional values are known to influence nurses’ ability to act courageously in the face of ethical conflicts, yet studies examining this relationship in Türkiye are limited. This research was carried out in a descriptive and correlational design to examine the relationship between nurses’ professional values and levels of moral courage and explored the moderating effects of individual and professional characteristics. The study included 218 nurses recruited via social media. Data were collected using the Nurses’ Moral Courage Scale, the Revised Nurses Professional Values Scale, and the Nurse Information Form. Analyses included descriptive statistics, Spearman’s correlation, and path analysis with AMOS 22.0. Approval was obtained from the Non-Interventional Research Ethics Committee of a university. Informed consent was obtained online, and the study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki. Nurses’ professional values and moral courage scores were above average, with a positive, moderate, and significant correlation between the two ( r = 0.541; p < 0.001). Path analysis showed that age, gender, educational level, professional experience, hospital type, work unit, position, weekly hours, job satisfaction, and intention to leave significantly moderated this relationship ( p < 0.001). Professional values are a strong determinant of moral courage among nurses. Individual and professional characteristics are key moderators of this relationship. Together with professional values, they influence nurses’ ethical decision-making, risk-taking, and professional identity, thereby strengthening moral courage. Developing educational programs and organizational environments that support professional values while considering individual differences is crucial for promoting ethical nursing practice.