Moral Sensitivity and Compassion Fatigue Among Pediatric Nurses: A Descriptive Correlational Study

Authors : Tuğba Özdemir, Selen Özakar Akça
Pages : 675-685
Doi:10.46413/boneyusbad.1508639
View : 186 | Download : 195
Publication Date : 2025-12-19
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :Aim: This study aims to determine the levels of moral sensitivity and compassion fatigue among pediatric nurses and to examine the relationship between these two variables. Material and Method: This study employs a descriptive-correlational design. It was conducted between November 2021 and May 2022 with 110 nurses working in pediatric clinics who agreed to participate in the study. Personal Information Form, Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire and Compassion Fatigue Short Scale were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using One-Sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Independent Sample T test, Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis H test. Results: The total scores of the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire (70.5 ± 17.7) and Compassion Fatigue Short Scale (86.8 ± 13.9) were high. The mean scores of the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire of pediatric nurses who have been working between 1-5 years are significantly higher than those who have been working between 6-10 years, those who do the profession without liking the profession than those who do it willingly, and those who choose the profession involuntarily than those who choose it willingly (p<0.05). Nurses over 40 years of age had significantly higher mean scores on the Compassion Fatigue Short Scale than nurses aged 29 years and younger, and nurses with less than 1 year of employment had significantly higher mean scores on the Compassion Fatigue Short Scale than nurses with 11 or more years of employment (p<0.05). There is a negative, low-level relationship between moral sensitivity and compassion fatigue scores of nurses (r=-0.193, p<0.05). Conclusion: Pediatric nurses have high levels of moral sensitivity and compassion fatigue. As the moral sensitivity of nurses decreases, their compassion fatigue increases. It is recommended that future studies to determine the levels of moral sensitivity and compassion fatigue in nurses and to examine the relationship between them should be carried out with a larger sample group on nurses with a wide variety of descriptive characteristics.
Keywords : Ahlaki duyarlılık, Pediatri Hemşireliği, Merhamet Yorgunluğu

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