title: The moral development of baccalaureate nursing students: understanding unethical behavior in classroom and clinical settings.
abstract: Unethical behavior in both classroom and clinical settings is a concern for nurse educators and has the potential to greatly influence the quality of patient care. A review of the literature suggests that students may view unethical clinical behaviors as different from unethical classroom behaviors because they recognize that clinical behaviors may have a direct effect on patient care. An overview of three moral theories, proposed by Kohlberg, Gilligan, and Rest, provides insight into the reasons for unethical behavior. These theories provide the foundation for strategies nurse educators can use to help reduce unethical behavior in both classroom and clinical settings in an attempt to ensure quality patient care.
authors.affiliation: McMaster University, School of Nursing, 1200 Main Street West, HHS Building 2J34H, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8N 3Z5. baxterp@mcmaster.ca
authors.forename: Pamela E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Baxter
authors.forename: Sheryl L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Boblin
mesh_terms: D000533:Altruism; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000592:standards; D004645:Empathy; D028663:Ethical Theory; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D035863:Moral Development; D009042:Motivation; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D028662:Principle-Based Ethics; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology; D012660:Semantics; D012919:Social Behavior; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D013850:Thinking