Knowledge of Ethical Principles among Student Nurses at Rivers State University: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Abstract

Ethical competence is a fundamental requirement in professional nursing practice, as it guides decision-making, promotes patient safety, and ensures adherence to professional standards in healthcare delivery. This study assessed the knowledge of ethical principles among student nurses in the Department of Nursing Science, Rivers State University. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised 410 undergraduate nursing students in Year 2, Year 3, and Year 4, from which a sample size of 202 respondents was determined using the Taro Yamane formula at a 0.05 margin of error. A convenience sampling technique was used to select the participants.

Data were collected using a researcher-designed electronic questionnaire, and reliability of the instrument was established using Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient with a value of 0.68. A total of 202 questionnaires were distributed, out of which 191 were properly completed and returned, representing a response rate of 95.6%. Data obtained were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27, employing descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation.

Findings revealed that 49.2% of the respondents were below 20 years of age, while 67.5% were female. The assessment of students’ knowledge of ethical principles showed mean scores ranging from 3.22 to 3.85, with a grand mean score of 3.39 (SD = 0.74), indicating a high level of knowledge of ethical principles among the respondents.

The study concluded that student nurses at Rivers State University possess adequate knowledge of ethical principles necessary for professional nursing practice in line with the standards of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. Continuous reinforcement of ethics education through academic and clinical training is recommended to enhance the application of ethical knowledge in clinical settings.