The Relationship Between Nurses' Perceptions of Caring Behaviors Based on Watson's Theory and of Professional Ethics: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Caring is a central concept in nursing. It is essential that nurses adhere to ethics toward improving the quality of their performance as nurses. This study aims to explore the relationship between nurses' perceptions of caring behaviors and of nursing professional ethics.Methods: ۲۱۰ nurses from hospitals in Shiraz, Iran, participated in this cross-sectional study. The participants were selected via stratified random sampling. The data collection tool consisted of demographics, Watson's caring dimensions inventory, and Petty's work ethics scale. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS v. ۲۵ using descriptive and analytical statistics.Results: There was not a statistically significant relationship between the nurses' demographics and their perceptions of caring behaviors or of nursing professional ethics. The mean of the participants' perception of caring behaviors scores was ۱۴۲.۴۹±۱۰.۷۱ and the mean of their professional ethics scores was ۱۰۲.۲۱±۵.۳۲. A significant positive correlation was found to exist between the two variables under study (P<۰.۰۰۱, r=۰.۴۶).Conclusion: There is a positive correlation between nurses' perceptions of caring behaviors and of professional ethics. This study can be used as an additional resource to enhance knowledge about perceptions of caring behaviors and professional ethics to be used in nursing practice and nursing management.

Keywords:

Caring , Nurses , Behavior , Watson's theory , Ethics