Abstract
Background
Compassion fatigue in nursing interns contributes to career indecision and worsens the nursing shortage. While work environment and psychological factors are well-studied, the ethical dimension remains unexplored. Understanding these mechanisms, particularly the role of moral courage, is essential for designing interventions to combat compassion fatigue and address the workforce crisis. This study investigates the influence of moral courage on compassion fatigue among Chinese nursing interns, focusing on the mediating roles of moral sensitivity and professional identity.
Methods
A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted in accordance with the STROBE guidelines. We used the convenience sampling method to recruit 467 nursing interns from four public junior colleges in Hunan Province, China in February, 2024. Data were collected using Compassion Fatigue Short Scale, Moral Courage Scale, Revised Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire, and Professional Identity Scale. Data analyses were conducted using SPSS 22.0 and Amos 21.0.
Results
The modified model exhibited a good fit (χ2/df = 3.437, AGFI = 0.928, IFI = 0.984, TLI = 0.976, CFI = 0.984, NFI = 0.977, RMSEA = 0.072). Moral sensitivity positively influenced both moral courage and professional identity, while professional identity negatively impacted compassion fatigue. Importantly, the effect of moral courage on compassion fatigue was entirely mediated by moral sensitivity and professional identity (β = -0.114, P = 0.001).
Conclusion
This study suggests that moral courage in nursing interns mitigates compassion fatigue through the combined mediating effects of moral sensitivity and professional identity. Ethics education programs fostering moral courage, moral sensitivity, and professional values in nursing students could be crucial in alleviating compassion fatigue.
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Introduction
Nursing is a profession built on compassion and a strong moral commitment. As student nurses transition into clinical internships, they encounter a unique set of challenges [1, 2] that include balancing academic pressures with the demands of patient care [3, 4], navigating complex healthcare environments, and providing emotional support to patients who are ill and vulnerable [3, 5,6,7]. These stressors contribute to compassion fatigue [8,9,10], a state of characterized by emotional exhaustion and secondary traumatic stress [11]. High rates of compassion fatigue among nursing students have been reported, negatively impacting their well-being, academic success, and the quality of healthcare services [12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20].
Existing strategies to address compassion fatigue are limited. However, internal resources such as moral courage, moral sensitivity, and professional identity can help individuals cope with stressful situations [21,22,23,24]. Moral courage is defined as the capacity and willingness to adhere to ethical standards and act according to personal ethical values despite potential negative outcomes or ethical dilemmas [25]. Research demonstrates that these resources can mitigate compassion fatigue across various caregiving professions [26,27,28], with moral courage playing a crucial role [26, 29]. Yet, the specific mechanisms by which moral courage influences compassion fatigue in nursing interns remain unclear.
Moral sensitivity, characterized by comprehending the ethical values associated with human health situations, is the ability to identify the presence of ethical issues [30,31,32]. For nursing interns, this capacity is crucial because it empowers them to make ethically-based decisions and take appropriate actions when confronted with ethical dilemmas [25, 33, 34]. This heightened moral sensitivity not only bolsters their courage to act in accordance with their beliefs but also fosters a deeper commitment to and greater hope in their chosen profession [35, 36]. Furthermore, a study by İlter et al. demonstrates that as the level of moral sensitivity increases, the degree of compassion fatigue experienced by intensive care nurses decreases [37]. However, whether this relationship holds true for nursing interns remains to be further investigated.
A strong sense of professional identity is critical for nursing students to develop into confident, successful, and resilient healthcare professionals [38, 39]. This identity encompasses both career planning process and the affirmation of their roles within their current clinical setting [40]. Research shows that nursing interns with a well-developed professional identity demonstrate a more positive attitude towards their future careers. This positive attitude not only fosters a deeper understanding of their professional value during internships but also leads to increased feelings of accomplishment and satisfaction, ultimately mitigating compassion fatigue [41, 42].
The cognitive-transactional model of stress by Lazarus and Folkman [43] offers a framework for understanding how individuals cope with stress, including in nursing and medical education [44, 45]. According to this model, individuals engage in primary and secondary appraisals when facing stress. Primary appraisal involving assessing the threat or challenge posed by the situation, while secondary appraisal involves evaluating coping resources [46]. Applying this model to nursing interns helps elucidate how moral courage, moral sensitivity, and professional identity interact to alleviate compassion fatigue.
During primary appraisal, moral courage can instill confidence and determination in nursing interns to take action when facing ethical challenges [47]. It can also enhance their moral sensitivity, as practical action makes them more adept at identifying and analyzing ethical issues [25, 48]. In the secondary appraisal, moral sensitivity enables healthcare providers to recognize and understand ethical issues, leading to more effective coping decisions in stressful situations [49, 50]. Some studies suggest that moral sensitivity is a prerequisite for moral courage; individuals must identify moral issues before taking action, indicating a complex interplay between the two [51]. Professional identity acts as an intrinsic resource throughout the appraisal and coping process. Evidence shows that moral courage can enhance the level of professional identity among nurses [52, 53]. Furthermore, a study conducted in China with 349 nurses found that moral sensitivity can directly enhance professional identity [54, 55]. Professional identity not only directly alleviates compassion fatigue but also provides more enduring psychological support by enhancing individuals’ professional self-esteem and job satisfaction [56, 57].
However, current research often focusing on one or two of these concepts in isolation [19, 26,27,28, 35, 37], with limited studies on nursing interns. This fragmented approach fails to reveal the interactions and combined effects of these variables. This study aims to investigate the impact of moral courage on compassion fatigue among nursing interns and explore the mediating roles of professional identity and moral sensitivity in this relationship.
Based on cognitive-transactional model and the literature review, we propose that moral courage enhances moral sensitivity, enabling nursing interns to better recognize and address ethical issues, thereby strengthening their professional identity. This interaction can further alleviate compassion fatigue. Therefore, professional identity and moral sensitivity may mediate the relationship between moral courage and compassion fatigue.
To address these aims, we proposed the following nine hypotheses:
Hypothesis 1
Moral courage negatively influences compassion fatigue among nursing interns.
Hypothesis 2
There is a positive reciprocal relationship between moral courage and moral sensitivity.
Hypothesis 3
Moral courage positively influences professional identity.
Hypothesis 4
Moral sensitivity positively influences professional identity.
Hypothesis 5
Moral sensitivity negatively influences compassion fatigue among nursing interns.
Hypothesis 6
Professional identity negatively inlfuences compassion fatigue among nursing interns.
Hypothesis 7
Moral sensitivity mediates the relationship between moral courage and compassion fatigue.
Hypothesis 8
Professional identity mediates the relationship between moral courage and compassion fatigue.
Hypothesis 9
Professional identity and moral sensitivity serve as a chain mediating effect in the relationship between moral courage and compassion fatigue.
Methods
Study design
This quantitative, cross-sectional study employed a web-based questionnaire survey and adhered to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines.
Study setting and sampling
In a convenience sample from four public junior colleges in Hunan province, located in central China, eligible nursing interns were recruited in February, 2024. Inclusion criteria for participants were: [1] completion of at least two years of nursing coursework (including general nursing and midwifery specialties) [2], participation in clinical internships at second-level hospitals or above for a minimum of eight months, and [3] provision of informed consent and voluntary participation. Interns solely involved in clerical management or administration duties without direct patient contact were excluded.
Sample size
This study employed structural equation modeling (SEM) with maximum likelihood estimation to examine all paths between variables. The N: q rule (10:1) was employed to determine the minimum sample size, where N represents the required number of cases and q signifies the number of parameters requiring estimation [58]. Based on this rule, with 28 estimated parameters (q), a minimum sample size of 280 was obtained. To account for a potential 20% invalid questionnaire rate, the target sample size was adjusted to 339. To ensure generalizability and minimize sampling bias, 544 nursing interns undergoing internships in public junior colleges were recruited.
Data collection
An online questionnaire was created using the Wenjuanxing platform (https://www.wjx.cn). Nursing interns accessed the survey by scanning a QR code through their WeChat app. To ensure data quality, a pilot test was conducted beforehand to estimate completion time and inform necessary adjustments. System restrictions limited to one per device and WeChat account, and all questions were mandatory to guarantee complete data. Prior to the study, designated teaching counselors from four colleges received standardized training on research objectives and survey procedures. They then recruited eligible nursing interns who were fully informed about the study’s aims and methods and provided electronic written informed consent. To maintain the data integrity, responses completed in less than 8 min or exhibiting patterns of regularity, uniformity, or logical inconsistency were excluded. This rigorous process yielded a final sample of 467 valid responses from a total of enrollment of 544 nursing interns, resulting in a high effective response rate of 85.9%.
Ethical consideration
This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Hunan Traditional Chinese Medical College (YXLL202401004). To ensure complete participants confidentiality, a fully anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted. All collected data were securely stored and accessed only by the research team for the sole purpose of this study.
Instruments
Demographic characteristics
The demographic characteristics questionnaire was developed by the research team assessed variables including participants’ age, gender, field of specialization, hospital level of internship, motivations for choosing nursing, exposure to ethics coursework, participation in internship ethics training, future career aspirations, interest in the nursing profession, and self-reported health status in the past month.
Compassion fatigue short scale
The original Compassion Fatigue Short Scale (CFSS) developed by Adams et al. [59]. was translated and validated for the Chinese language by Sun et al [60]. This Chinese version retains the original two-dimensional structure, namely Burnout (BO) subscale (items 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, and 13) and Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) subscale (items 3, 5, 8,10, and 12), for a total of 13 items. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficients demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency for the total scale (0.90) and both subscales (BO: 0.90, STS:0.80). Each item is rated on a 10-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (“never”) to 10 (always), with a possible total score range of 13–130. Higher scores indicate greater severity of CF. In this study, the Cronbach’s α values obtained for the total scale 0.925, BO subscale (0.894), and STS subscale (0.897) demonstrated good internal consistency.
Moral sensitivity questionnaire-revised
The original Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire (MSQ), developed by Lützén et al. [21]. and subsequently revised in 2006 [36], is a tool used to assess moral sensitivity. The Chinese adaptation of the MSQ, translated and validated by Huang et al., consists of 9 items and 2 dimensions: moral responsibility and strength, as well as moral burden [61]. The Cronbach’s α coefficient for the total scale of MSQR was found to be 0.820, indicating good internal consistency. Each item is rated on a 6-point Likert scale ranging from “complete disagreement” [1] to “complete agreement” [6], resulting in a total score range of 9–54. A higher score indicates greater moral sensitivity. In this study, the total scale demonstrated excellent internal consistency with a Cronbach’s α coefficient of 0.890.
Moral courage scale
The original Moral Courage Scale (MCS) was developed by Numminen et al. [62], and the Chinese version was translated and validated by Wang et al [63]. The Chinese version of MCS comprises 21 items, which are categorized into 4 dimensions: moral integrity (item 1, 4, 9, 11, 12, 19, and 21), commitment to good care (item 5, 8, 14, 16, and 18), compassion and genuine presence (item 2, 10, 15, 17, 20), and moral responsibility (item 3, 6, 7, and 13). Cronbach’s α for the total scale was 0.905, indicating high internal consistency. Each item is assessed on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from “does not describe me at all” [1] to “describe me very well” [5], resulting in a total score range of 21–105. A higher score indicates greater levels of moral courage. In this study, the total scale demonstrated excellent internal consistency with a Cronbach’s α coefficient of 0.976.
Professional identity scale
The Chinese version of the Professional Identity Scale (PIS), which has been translated and validated by Lu et al., was employed in this study to measure professional identity [64]. PIS was initially developed by Brown et al. [65]. and demonstrated a Cronbach’s α coefficient of 0.71. PIS is a unidimensional scale comprising 10 items, with 5 items (items 1, 4, 5, 8, and 9) scored positively and the remaining 5 items (items 2, 3, 6, 7, and 10) scored negatively on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from “never” [1] to “always” [5]. A higher score reflects a stronger sense of professional identity. In this study, the Cronbach’s α coefficient for the scale was found to be satisfactory at an acceptable level of 0.816.
Statistical analysis
In this study, descriptive statistics were first to summarize participant baseline characteristics and their scores in moral courage, professional identity, moral sensitivity, and compassion fatigue. Due to the large sample size, Pearson correlation analysis was employed to explore the interrelationships among these variables [66]. Bootstrap testing was then utilized to examine the mediating effects of moral courage and compassion fatigue. The fit of the structural equation model was assessed using the established criteria: chi-square to degrees of freedom ratio (χ2/df) < 3, comparative fit index (CFI) > 0.90, Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) > 0.90, and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) < 0.08 [67]. A two-tailed p-value of 0.05 was set for statistical significance. All statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS 20.0 and IBM Amos 21.0 software.
Results
Participant characteristics
Table 1 summarized the baseline characteristics of 467 nursing interns. The majority (56.1%, n = 262) were centered around the age of 20. Gender distribution skewed predominantly female, with 90.6% (n = 423) identifying as female. Nearly all participants (97.9%, n = 457) belong to the nursing specialization. Regarding motivation for choosing nursing, 42.4% (n = 198) were driven by personal interest, while 53.7% (n = 251) were influenced by friends and family. Allocation adjustment accounted for 3.9% (n = 18) entering the field. Over half of the students (53.7%, n = 251) hold a positive or very positive attitude towards the nursing profession. 88.7% (n = 414) currently intern at tertiary hospitals. Additionally, 92.5% (n = 432) have taken nursing ethics courses during their academic studies, while a smaller proportion (3.0%, n = 14) have studied medical ethics. During their internship period, 366 students received further training related to ethics. In terms of personal health assessment over the past month, nearly 61.9% of the students (n = 289) considered their health condition to be good, although 31.3% perceived their health as average. 72.2% of the participants (n = 337) expressed their intention to pursue a career in nursing post-graduation.
Scores of variables
Table 2 presents the scores of nursing interns on various psychosocial constructs, including compassion fatigue, professional identity, moral sensitivity, and moral courage. Compassion fatigue demonstrated an overall mean of 35.876 (SD = 19.103), with subscales for burnout (24.281, SD = 12.908) and secondary traumatic stress (11.595, SD = 7.944) contributing to this score. Nursing interns exhibited a strong professional identity, reflected in a high mean score of 37.610 (SD = 6.287). Moral sensitivity yielded a mean score of 37.000 (SD = 7.236), compromised of scores for sense of moral burden (15.073, SD = 3.718) and moral responsibility (21.927, SD = 4.403). Finally, moral courage displayed the highest overall mean score (69.647, SD = 16.057). Subscale scores within moral courage included moral integrity (23.323, SD = 5.453), commitment to quality patient care (16.242, SD = 3.986), compassion and true presence with patients (16.814, SD = 3.907), and moral responsibility (13.268, SD = 3.249).
Correlations for variables
Our findings demonstrated positive correlations between moral courage and both professional identity (r = 0.230, p < 0.01) and moral sensitivity (r = 0.487, p < 0.01). Conversely, moral courage exhibited a negative correlation with compassion fatigue (r = -0.148, p < 0.01). Interestingly, both moral sensitivity (r = -0.159, p < 0.01) and professional identity (r = -0.527, p < 0.01) were inversely associated with compassion fatigue. Additionally, a positive association was observed between moral sensitivity and professional identity (r = 0.319, p < 0.01). A detailed presentation of all correlations is provided in Table 2, except for the Professional Identity Scale.
Structural equation modeling of the association of moral courage, moral sensitivity, professional identity, and compassion fatigue
Based on the results of the correlation matrix, we first established the relationship structure among all variables. Subsequent model fit analysis revealed that three direct paths were not statistically significant: moral courage to compassion fatigue, and moral sensitivity to compassion fatigue (Fig. 1A). To improve model fit, these non-significant paths were removed. The revised model demonstrated good fit indices: χ2/df = 3.437, AGFI = 0.928, IFI = 0.984, TLI = 0.976, CFI = 0.984, NFI = 0.977, RMSEA = 0.072 [90% CI, 0.056–0.089] (Fig. 1B).
Theoretical mechanisms of moral courage on compassion fatigue according to correlation analysis (A), and influencing of moral courage on compassion fatigue through moral sensitivity and professional identity (B)
Note: Abbreviations: MS1: moral responsibility and strength; MS2: moral burden; MC1: moral integrity; MC2: commitment to good care; MC3: compassion and genuine presence; MC4: moral responsibility; BO: burnout; STS: Secondary Traumatic Stress
As depicted in Fig. 1B, moral courage has a significant positive effect on moral sensitivity (β = 0.497, p = 0.001). Additionally, the direct paths from moral sensitivity to professional identity (β = 0.423, p = 0.001) and from professional identity to compassion fatigue (β = -0.543, p = 0.001) are statistically significant.
Table 3 summarizes the significance of all pathways obtained through a bootstrap test. The results reveal a statistically significant indirect effect of moral sensitivity on compassion fatigue mediated by professional identity (B = -0.230, 95% CI [-0.289 to -0.175], p = 0.001). Interestingly, moral courage has an indirect negative effect on professional identity mediated by moral sensitivity (B = 0.210 [95% CI (0.146 to 0.285), p = 0.001]. Furthermore, moral courage indirectly influences compassion fatigue through its combined effects on both moral sensitivity and professional identity (B = -0.114, 95% CI [-0.161 to -0.076]). These findings suggest a chain mediating role of moral sensitivity and professional identity in the relationship between moral courage and compassion fatigue among Chinese nursing interns.
Discussion
Nursing interns are highly susceptible to compassion fatigue due to frequent exposure to others’ suffering, high-stress environments, and relentless self-sacrifice [68]. This fatigue can lead to increased dropout rates and early departure after graduation, ultimately worsening nursing staff shortages [12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19]. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms underlying compassion fatigue in nursing interns is essential for developing targeted and effective interventions.
Our study is the first, to our knowledge, to examine the mediating effects of moral sensitivity and professional identity on the relationship between moral courage and compassion fatigue among Chinese nursing interns. Interestingly, the average compassion fatigue score (35.876) measured by the CFSS was lower than reported in previous studies using the same tool [19, 69, 70]. This difference may be due to the timing of our research. Unlike prior studies conducted at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, ours was conducted after the situation had stabilized. Research suggests that healthcare professionals working in high-stress environments like pandemics experience more psychological distress [71, 72]. This can be attributed to frequent exposure to patient suffering and death [73]. The heightened risk of burnout and compassion fatigue among healthcare workers, including nursing students, during the COVID-19 pandemic is well-documented [74]. Therefore, the post-pandemic context of our study likely explains the discrepancy with previous findings.
Our study highlights the critical role of moral courage in enhancing moral sensitivity among nursing interns [53, 75,76,77], aligning with previous research on the positive correlation between these constructs in Chinese nursing interns [35, 78, 79]. The findings suggest that moral courage not only enhances nurses’ sensitivity to ethical challenges but also improves their capacity to navigate complex nursing environments by reinforcing their moral sensitivity [25, 80, 81]. This bidirectional relationship implies that while moral sensitivity lays the groundwork for the enactment of moral courage, moral courage subsequently strengthens this sensitivity [25, 80]. While Goktas et al. observed a slight negative correlation between moral courage and moral sensitivity among intensive care nurses [51]. The variance in findings may be attributed to differences in personality traits, such as individuals’ varying capacities to adapt and readiness to address moral challenges, as well as divergent internship and work conditions, including organizational support and the broader organizational climate. Additionally, our study found that the moral sensitivity and professional identity fully mediate the relationship between moral courage and compassion fatigue in the context of nursing education in China. These mediating roles are significant as they highlight the pathways through which moral courage can mitigate compassion fatigue. Specifically, enhancing moral sensitivity and professional identity in nursing interns can amplify the beneficial effects of moral courage on reducing compassion fatigue. This finding underscores the importance of developing and implementing training and intervention programs aimed at boosting these attributes. By doing so, we can not only enhance moral courage but also effectively alleviate compassion fatigue, supporting the ongoing professional growth of nursing interns. Interestingly, our study did not observe a direct effect of moral courage on professional identity or compassion fatigue, which diverges from existing research on nurses [26, 52]. This discrepancy may be attributed to differences in the study populations, the structural variations in compassion fatigue and professional identity measurement tools, or the specific healthcare environments in different international contexts. These findings highlight the need for further exploration into the relationship between moral courage and compassion fatigue among nursing interns, particularly focusing on the unique conditions and challenges faced by this group. Moral sensitivity, the ability to identify and address ethical dilemmas in nursing, is crucial for students’ professional growth [82]. It encompasses both empathy for patients’ needs [83] and a grasp of professional duties and ethics [84]. This study reveals a positive impact of moral sensitivity on professional identity formation in nursing interns. As moral sensitivity strengthens, so does their recognition of professional values [85, 86]. This empowers them to navigate ethical challenges and prioritize safety, quality, and ethics in daily practice [87,88,89]. Nursing interns with higher moral sensitivity are more likely to implement core values like patient respect, high-quality care, and rights protection [90], deepening their understanding of the profession’s significance. This fosters professional identity and a sense of fulfillment from helping others [91,92,93,94]. Notably, our study, alongside research on oncology, intensive care, and midwifery [28, 95], did not find a direct correlation between moral sensitivity and compassion fatigue. This might be due to two factors. Firstly, as newcomers, interns face fewer clinical challenges, potentially lessening the impact on both moral sensitivity and compassion fatigue. Secondly, prior studies often relied on correlational analysis, which doesn’t establish causality or account for other influencing factors [96, 97]. Therefore, further research on this relationship among nursing interns is warranted.
A strong professional identity in nursing not only enhances students’ self-confidence and sense of belonging but also serves as a key factor in job satisfaction and career stability [98,99,100,101]. This study demonstrates a direct negative correlation between professional identity and compassion fatigue, aligning with existing literature. This phenomenon is likely attributed to the specific work challenges faced by nursing students during their internship. Nursing interns often experience a demanding workload, frequent department rotations, and pressure to adapt, which can challenge their sense of self-efficacy and professional identity [102, 103]. A reduced professional identity exacerbates interns’ perception of ethical dilemmas, which in turn intensifies feelings of helplessness and defeat at work, as well as the accumulation of negative emotions, such as fatigue, pain, anxiety, and depression, ultimately leading to compassion fatigue [104, 105]. In light of these findings, it is recommended that hospital administrators enhance the cultivation of professional identity among nursing interns by implementing personalized training and support programs, effectively mitigating compassion fatigue.
Limitation
While this study provides valuable insights, its cross-sectional design limits our ability to establish causality between moral courage and compassion fatigue. Future research employing longitudinal designs could prospectively examine this mitigating effect. Additionally, the reliance on self-reported measures (e.g., MCS, CFSS) necessitates the use of a multiplicity of data collection methods in future studies to enhance data accuracy and reliability. Furthermore, we did not include the physical and mental health conditions of nursing interns as controlling variables, which could influence the level of compassion fatigue. Future studies should incorporate these variables for a more comprehensive understanding of the influences on compassion fatigue.
Conclusion
This study initially reveals that moral courage is positively associated with both moral sensitivity and professional identity, which in turn is negatively correlated with compassion fatigue. Further analysis confirmed that moral courage significantly reduces compassion fatigue mediated by both moral sensitivity and professional identity. These findings suggest that developing training programs grounded in moral courage to enhance moral sensitivity and professional identity is not only feasible but could also be highly effective in alleviating compassion fatigue among nursing interns.
Data availability
In consideration of the participants’ privacy within this study, the datasets generated and/or analyzed are not publicly accessible. However, they can be obtained from the corresponding author upon a reasonable request.
References
Chapman R, Orb A. Coping strategies in clinical practice: the nursing students’ lived experience. Contemp Nurse. 2001;11(1):95–102.
Hamadi HY, Zakari NMA, Jibreel E, Al Nami FN, Smida JAS, Ben Haddad HH. Stress and coping strategies among nursing students in clinical practice during COVID-19. Nurs Rep. 2021;11(3):629–39.
McCarthy B, Trace A, O’Donovan M, Brady-Nevin C, Murphy M, O’Shea M, et al. Nursing and midwifery students’ stress and coping during their undergraduate education programmes: an integrative review. Nurse Educ Today. 2018;61:197–209.
Labrague LJ, McEnroe-Petitte DM, Gloe D, Thomas L, Papathanasiou IV, Tsaras K. A literature review on stress and coping strategies in nursing students. J Mental Health. 2017;26(5):471–80.
Rafati F, Rafati S, Khoshnood Z. Perceived stress among Iranian nursing students in a clinical learning environment: a cross-sectional study. Adv Med Educ Pract. 2020;11:485–91.
Welch SR. Clinical stress and clinical performance in prelicensure nursing students: a systematic review. J Nurs Educ. 2023;62(1):36–41.
Reid JC, Hoad N, Willison K, Hanmiah R, Brandt Vegas D, Mitri M et al. Learning needs and perceived barriers and facilitators to end-of-life care: a survey of front-line nurses on acute medical wards. BMJ Open Qual. 2023;12(2).
Corley MC. Nurse moral distress: a proposed theory and research agenda. Nurs Ethics. 2002;9(6):636–50.
Thapa DK, Levett-Jones T, West S, Cleary M. Burnout, compassion fatigue, and resilience among healthcare professionals. Nurs Health Sci. 2021;23(3):565–9.
Maiden J, Georges JM, Connelly CD. Moral distress, compassion fatigue, and perceptions about medication errors in certified critical care nurses. Dimens Crit Care Nurs. 2011;30(6):339–45.
Bride BE, Radey M, Figley CR. Measuring Compassion fatigue. Clin Soc Work J. 2007;35(3):155–63.
Lin CD, Lin BY. Training demands on clerk burnout: determining whether achievement goal motivation orientations matter. BMC Med Educ. 2016;16(1):214.
Chachula KM. Professional Quality of Life factors and relationships in nursing and Psychiatric nursing students: an exploratory study. SAGE Open Nurs. 2021;7:2377960821994394.
Rudman A, Gustavsson P, Hultell D. A prospective study of nurses’ intentions to leave the profession during their first five years of practice in Sweden. Int J Nurs Stud. 2014;51(4):612–24.
Chi DL, Randall CL, Hill CM. Dental trainees’ mental health and intention to leave their programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Am Dent Assoc. 2021;152(7):526–34.
Drummond JR, Duguid R. Student drop-out from UK dental schools. Br Dent J. 1997;182(9):347–9.
Marôco J, Assunção H, Harju-Luukkainen H, Lin SW, Sit PS, Cheung KC, et al. Predictors of academic efficacy and dropout intention in university students: can engagement suppress burnout? PLoS ONE. 2020;15(10):e0239816.
Rudman A, Gustavsson JP. Burnout during nursing education predicts lower occupational preparedness and future clinical performance: a longitudinal study. Int J Nurs Stud. 2012;49(8):988–1001.
Yi LJ, Cai J, Ma L, Lin H, Yang J, Tian X et al. Prevalence of Compassion Fatigue and its Association with Professional Identity in Junior College nursing interns: a cross-sectional study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(22).
Cao X, Wang L, Wei S, Li J, Gong S. Prevalence and predictors for compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction in nursing students during clinical placement. Nurse Educ Pract. 2021;51:102999.
Lützén K, Blom T, Ewalds-Kvist B, Winch S. Moral stress, moral climate and moral sensitivity among psychiatric professionals. Nurs Ethics. 2010;17(2):213–24.
Li J, Zheng W, Liu L, Li S. The effect of medical staff’s professional identity on psychological stress during public health emergencies: the role of intolerance of uncertainty and adversity appraisal. Acta Psychol (Amst). 2022;227:103605.
Zhang YD, Gao YQ, Tang Y, Li YH. The role of workplace social capital on the relationship between perceived stress and professional identity among clinical nurses during the COVID-19 outbreak. Jpn J Nurs Sci. 2021;18(1):e12376.
Turale S, Meechamnan C, Kunaviktikul W. Challenging times: ethics, nursing and the COVID-19 pandemic. Int Nurs Rev. 2020;67(2):164–7.
Luo Z, Tao L, Wang CC, Zheng N, Ma X, Quan Y, et al. Correlations between moral courage, moral sensitivity, and ethical decision-making by nurse interns: a cross-sectional study. BMC Nurs. 2023;22(1):260.
Alshammari MH, Alboliteeh M. Moral courage, burnout, professional competence, and compassion fatigue among nurses. Nurs Ethics. 2023;30(7–8):1068–82.
Zhang Y, Peng Q, Dong W, Hou C, Chen C. Professional identity and sense of coherence affect the between compassion fatigue and work engagement among Chinese hospital nurses. BMC Nurs. 2023;22(1):472.
Aydin Dogan R, Huseyinoglu S, Yazici S. Compassion fatigue and moral sensitivity in midwives in COVID-19. Nurs Ethics. 2023;30(6):776–88.
Mingfeng Y. The Relationship between Professional Self-concept,Moral Courage and Compassion Fatigue of Standardized Training Nurses [Master’s Theses]. Shandong University; 2021.
TerkeŞ N, ÇElİK F, TaŞDelen F, KiliÇ MH. Yoğun Bakım Hemşireliği Dergisi. 2018;22(1):1–9.
Alan H, ŞEn HT, ŞIpkin S, YOĞUN BAKIM VE AMELİYATHANE HEMŞİRELERİNİN, ETİK İKİLEMLERE KARŞI DUYARLILIKLARI: ÜNİVERSİTE HASTANESİ ÖRNEĞİ. Cumhuriyet Hemşirelik Dergisi. 2017;6(1):26–33.
Tazegün A, ÇElEbİoğlu A. Çocuk hemşirelerinin etik duyarlılık düzeyleri ve etkileyen faktörler. İzmir Dr Behçet Uz Çocuk Hast Dergisi. 2016;6(2):97–102.
Milliken A. Nurse ethical sensitivity: an integrative review. Nurs Ethics. 2018;25(3):278–303.
Bordignon SS, Lunardi VL, Barlem ELD, Dalmolin GL, da Silveira RS, Ramos FRS, et al. Moral distress in undergraduate nursing students. Nurs Ethics. 2019;26(7–8):2325–39.
Escolar-Chua RL. Moral sensitivity, moral distress, and moral courage among baccalaureate Filipino nursing students. Nurs Ethics. 2018;25(4):458–69.
Lützén K, Dahlqvist V, Eriksson S, Norberg A. Developing the concept of moral sensitivity in health care practice. Nurs Ethics. 2006;13(2):187–96.
İlter SM, Ovayolu Ö, Serçe S, Ovayolu N. An Investigation of the Relationship Between Compassion Fatigue and Moral Sensitivity of Intensive Care Nurses. Omega. 2022:302228221107976.
Goodolf DM. Growing a professional identity: a grounded theory of baccalaureate nursing students. J Nurs Educ. 2018;57(12):705–11.
Franco M, Tavares P. The influence of Professional Identity on the process of nurses’ training: an empirical study. Leadersh Health Serv. 2013;26:118–34.
Wu C, Palmer MH, Sha K. Professional identity and its influencing factors of first-year post-associate degree baccalaureate nursing students: a cross-sectional study. Nurse Educ Today. 2020;84:104227.
Ting J, Yang P, Shuang W. Study on the Status and influencing factors of Empathy fatigue among nursing interns under the Background of Public Health Emergencies. Health Vocat Educ. 2024;42(04):131–5.
Lili C, Hongyan K, Shuang L, Xia H, Mengying J, Chaoxiang Y. Analysis of Compassion fatigue status and subjective and objective influencing factors of operating Room nurses in Northeast Sichuan. Health Vocat Educ. 2023;41(06):135–9.
Lazarus RS, Folkman S. Stress, appraisal, and coping. Springer publishing company; 1984.
Martin PD, Daniels FM. Application of Lazarus’s cognitive transactional model of stress-appraisal-coping in an undergraduate mental health nursing programme in the Western Cape, South Africa: theory development. Afr J Phys Health Educ Recreation Dance. 2014;20(sup–1):513–22.
Hojat M, Gonnella JS, Erdmann JB, Vogel WH. Medical students’ cognitive appraisal of stressful life events as related to personality, physical well-being, and academic performance: a longitudinal study. Pers Indiv Differ. 2003;35(1):219–35.
Lazarus RS. Evolution of a model of stress, coping, and discrete emotions. Handbook of stress, coping, and health: Implications for nursing research, theory, and practice. 2000:195–222.
Sekerka LE, Bagozzi RP. Moral courage in the workplace: Moving to and from the desire and decision to act. 2007.
Rest JR. A psychologist looks at the teaching of ethics. Hastings Cent Rep. 1982;12(1):29–36.
Borhani F, Abbaszadeh A, Mohamadi E, Ghasemi E, Hoseinabad-Farahani MJ. Moral sensitivity and moral distress in Iranian critical care nurses. Nurs Ethics. 2017;24(4):474–82.
Hunt G. Moral crisis, professionals and ethical education. Nurs Ethics. 1997;4(1):29–38.
Goktas S, Aktug C, Gezginci E. Evaluation of moral sensitivity and moral courage in intensive care nurses in Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nurs Crit Care. 2023;28(2):261–71.
Peng M, Saito S, Guan H, Ma X. Moral distress, moral courage, and career identity among nurses: a cross-sectional study. Nurs Ethics. 2023;30(3):358–69.
Abdollahi R, Iranpour S, Ajri-Khameslou M. Relationship between resilience and professional moral courage among nurses. J Med Ethics Hist Med. 2021;14:3.
Yanji C, Xiaoqin M, Yongsi L. Correlation between professional identity and moral sensitivity of nursing undergraduates in internship. Educ Chin Med. 2023;42(06):59–64.
Yanji C, Xiaoqin M. Correlation between professional identity and moral sensitivity of nursing undergraduates in internship. Educ Chin Med. 2023;42(06):59–64.
Jing T, Peng Y, Wu S. Study on the Status and influencing factors of Empathy fatigue among nursing interns under the Background of Public Health Emergencies. Health Vocat Educ. 2024;42(04):131–5.
Chen LL, Kou HY, Li S, Hua X, Jia MY, You CX. Analysis of Compassion fatigue status and subjective and objective influencing factors of operating Room nurses in Northeast Sichuan. Health Vocat Educ. 2023;41(06):135–9.
McDonald RP, Ho MH. Principles and practice in reporting structural equation analyses. Psychol Methods. 2002;7(1):64–82.
Adams RE, Boscarino JA, Figley CR. Compassion fatigue and psychological distress among social workers: a validation study. Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2006;76(1):103–8.
Sun B, Hu M, Yu S, Jiang Y, Lou B. Validation of the Compassion fatigue short scale among Chinese medical workers and firefighters: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2016;6(6):e011279.
Huang FF, Yang Q, Zhang J, Zhang QH, Khoshnood K, Zhang JP. Cross-cultural validation of the moral sensitivity questionnaire-revised Chinese version. Nurs Ethics. 2016;23(7):784–93.
Numminen O, Katajisto J, Leino-Kilpi H. Development and validation of nurses’ Moral Courage Scale. Nurs Ethics. 2019;26(7–8):2438–55.
SY W, LL W, WB YZTL, HP J. Y, The reliability and validity of the Chinese version nurses’ Moral Courage Scale. J Nurs Sci.34(21):92-.
Lu H, While AE, Barriball KL. Job satisfaction and its related factors: a questionnaire survey of hospital nurses in Mainland China. Int J Nurs Stud. 2007;44(4):574–88.
Brown JD. Self-esteem and self-evaluation: feeling is believing. Psychological perspectives on the self. Volume 4. Psychology; 2014. pp. 27–58.
Ghasemi A, Zahediasl S. Normality tests for statistical analysis: a guide for non-statisticians. Int J Endocrinol Metab. 2012;10(2):486–9.
Schreiber JB. Update to core reporting practices in structural equation modeling. Res Social Adm Pharm. 2017;13(3):634–43.
Peters E. Compassion fatigue in nursing: a concept analysis. Nurs Forum. 2018;53(4):466–80.
Li JN, Jiang XM, Zheng QX, Lin F, Chen XQ, Pan YQ, et al. Mediating effect of resilience between social support and compassion fatigue among intern nursing and midwifery students during COVID-19: a cross-sectional study. BMC Nurs. 2023;22(1):42.
Karabey T. Compassion fatigue and psychological resilience levels of nursing final students: a descriptive, cross-sectional, and relational study. Palliat Support Care. 2023:1–7.
Lluch C, Galiana L, Doménech P, Sansó N. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Burnout, Compassion fatigue, and Compassion satisfaction in Healthcare personnel: a systematic review of the literature published during the First Year of the pandemic. Healthc (Basel). 2022;10(2).
Kang X, Fang Y, Li S, Liu Y, Zhao D, Feng X, et al. The benefits of Indirect exposure to Trauma: the relationships among Vicarious Posttraumatic Growth, Social Support, and Resilience in Ambulance Personnel in China. Psychiatry Investig. 2018;15(5):452–9.
Waldman E, Waldman E, Glass M, editors. Oxford University Press; 2019 01 Nov 2019.
Xie W, Chen L, Feng F, Okoli CTC, Tang P, Zeng L, et al. The prevalence of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue among nurses: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Nurs Stud. 2021;120:103973.
Z C, H Y, B YY. Correlation between safety perception and moral courage of nursing intern. Chin evidence-based Nurs. 2022;8(8):1086–90.
Khoshmehr Z, Barkhordari-Sharifabad M, Nasiriani K, Fallahzadeh H. Moral courage and psychological empowerment among nurses. BMC Nurs. 2020;19:43.
Numminen O, Repo H, Leino-Kilpi H. Moral courage in nursing: a concept analysis. Nurs Ethics. 2017;24(8):878–91.
Khodaveisi M, Oshvandi K, Bashirian S, Khazaei S, Gillespie M, Masoumi SZ, et al. Moral courage, moral sensitivity and safe nursing care in nurses caring of patients with COVID-19. Nurs open. 2021;8(6):3538–46.
Zheng H, Luo L, Tan X, Cen Y, Xing N, Huang H, et al. Moral courage and its influencing factor among oncology specialist nurses: a multi-centre cross-sectional study. Nurs open. 2024;11(1):e2096.
Koskinen S, Pajakoski E, Fuster P, Ingadottir B, Löyttyniemi E, Numminen O, et al. Analysis of graduating nursing students’ moral courage in six European countries. Nurs Ethics. 2021;28(4):481–97.
Kleemola E, Leino-Kilpi H, Numminen O. Care situations demanding moral courage: content analysis of nurses’ experiences. Nurs Ethics. 2020;27(3):714–25.
Kahriman İ, Çalık KY. Ethical sensitivity of clinical nurses. Gümüşhane Univ J Health Sci. 2017;6(3):111–21.
Robichaux C. Developing ethical skills: from sensitivity to action. Crit Care Nurse. 2012;32(2):65–72.
Tuvesson H, Lützén K. Demographic factors associated with moral sensitivity among nursing students. Nurs Ethics. 2017;24(7):847–55.
Türkmen E, Vaizoğlu D, Yeşilyurt T, Uysal N. Effect of moral sensitivity on professional values of undergraduate nursing students: mediating effect of empathic tendency. J Prof Nurs. 2023;49:44–51.
Kaya A, Düzgün MV, Boz İ. The relationship between professional values, ethical sensitivities and caring behaviors among nursing students: a structural equation modeling approach. Nurse Educ Pract. 2023;70:103676.
Eckardt M, Lindfelt M. An analysis of nursing students’ ethical conflicts in a hospital. Nurs Ethics. 2019;26(7–8):2413–26.
Sperling D. Ethical dilemmas, perceived risk, and motivation among nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nurs Ethics. 2021;28(1):9–22.
Hognestad Haaland G, Olsen E, Mikkelsen A. The association between supervisor support and ethical dilemmas on nurses’ intention to leave: the mediating role of the meaning of work. J Nurs Manag. 2021;29(2):286–93.
Comrie RW. An analysis of undergraduate and graduate student nurses’ moral sensitivity. Nurs Ethics. 2012;19(1):116–27.
Ye Y, Hu R, Ni Z, Jiang N, Jiang X. Effects of perceived stress and professional values on clinical performance in practice nursing students: a structural equation modeling approach. Nurse Educ Today. 2018;71:157–62.
Xuejiao S, Junlan Z, Yu S, Huanxiang F, Jing S. Investigation on the moderating effect of Professional Value between Psychological Contract Breach and Occupational Identity of nurses in Hangzhou Medicine and society. 2020;33(4):122–35.
Rached CDA, Vieira GS, Melo FAB, Almeida M, Mira VL, Domercant H, et al. Nursing students’ professional values for reinforcing the professional identity. Rev Bras Enferm. 2023;76Suppl(3):e20220338.
Tehranineshat B, Torabizadeh C, Bijani M. A study of the relationship between professional values and ethical climate and nurses’ professional quality of life in Iran. Int J Nurs Sci. 2020;7(3):313–9.
Bakan AB, KiliÇ D, Aslan G, UÇAr F. Onkoloji Birimleri ve Yoğun Bakım Ünitelerinde Çalışan Hemşirelerde Etik Duyarlılık ve Merhamet Yorgunluğu Arasındaki İlişkinin İncelenmesi. Adnan Menderes Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi. 2020;4(1):20–9.
Huang FF, Yang Q, Zhang J, Khoshnood K, Zhang JP. Chinese nurses’ perceived barriers and facilitators of ethical sensitivity. Nurs Ethics. 2016;23(5):507–22.
Zhang N, Bu X, Xu Z, Gong Z, Gilal FG. Effect of ethical Leadership on Moral Sensitivity in Chinese nurses: a Multilevel Structural equation Model. ANS Adv Nurs Sci. 2021;44(3):E78–92.
BARAZ PS, Memarian R, Vanaki Z, DAMAGED PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY. AS A BARRIER TO IRANIAN NURSING STUDENTS’CLINICAL LEARNING: A QUALITATIVE STUDY. 2014.
Rasmussen P, Henderson A, Andrew N, Conroy T. Factors influencing registered nurses’ perceptions of their Professional Identity: an integrative literature review. J Contin Educ Nurs. 2018;49(5):225–32.
McCrae N, Askey-Jones S, Laker C. Merely a stepping stone? Professional identity and career prospects following postgraduate mental health nurse training. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs. 2014;21(9):767–73.
Hetherington D, Murphy G, Wilson N, Dixon K, Issues. Emergency department nurses’ narratives of burnout: blurring of roles and professional identity. Australian Nurs Midwifery J. 2020;26(11):40–1.
Gao Z, Wei X, Yang L, Cui D, Kong L, Qi L, et al. Mediating role of career self-efficacy between clinical learning environment and professional identity in nursing students. J Adv Nurs. 2022;78(4):1012–9.
Xia Y, Guo Q, Chen Q, Zeng L, Yi Q, Liu H, et al. Pathways from the clinical learning environment and ego identity to professional identity: a cross-sectional study. J Prof Nurs. 2023;45:29–34.
Zhiying S, Zhuqing Z, feng Z, Qiuxiang Z, Siqing D. Relationship between nurses’ Moral Distress and Professional Identity. Nurs J Chin People’s Liberation Army. 2018;35(18):34–8.
Zhaoli Y, Xingju Y, Xia S. The mediating effect of empathic fatigue on the relationship between moral distress and job burnout of ICU nurses. Mod Nurse. 2022;29(8):1–5.
Acknowledgements
We thank all students who participated in this study.
Funding
This study was supported by the Start-up funding of Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital for the full-time Postdoctoral Fellow and was funded by the “14th Five-Year Plan” Project of Education Science of Hunan Traditional Chinese Medical College in 2022. The authors have nothing to disclose.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Study conception and design: LJY & TS; Data collection, data analysis, and interpretation: LJY & JC & LG; Drafting of the article: LJY; Critical revision of the article: XT & MFJH; All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethics approval and consent to participate
This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Hunan Traditional Chinese Medical College (YXLL202401004) and was conducted under the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study.
Consent for publication
Not applicable.
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated in a credit line to the data.
About this article
Cite this article
Yi, L., Cai, J., Shuai, T. et al. Mediating effect of moral sensitivity and professional identity between moral courage and compassion fatigue among nursing interns: a cross-sectional study. BMC Nurs 23, 551 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-02173-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-02173-8