Relationship between Ethical Behavior of a Co-Worker, Ethical Climate, Self-Ethical Behavior, and Job Satisfaction among Critical Care Nurses

Abstract

The environment of critical care units is a highly stressful situation where nurses face critical decisions and daily confrontations with ethical dilemmas. Thus, this study aimed to examine the relationship between the ethical behavior of a co-worker, ethical climate, self-ethical behavior, and job satisfaction among Jordanian critical care nurses. A cross-sectional design was used to perform this study. A convenience sampling method was adopted, and data were collected from 376 registered nurses from two health sectors (government and private) from March to May of 2022. Findings revealed the mean scores of ethical behavior of co-worker, ethical climate, self-ethical behavior, and job satisfaction were as follows: 3.07 (SD = 0.73) out of 4, 3.57 (SD = 0.65) out of 5, 3.45 (SD = 0.49) out of 5, and 3.20 (SD = 0.60) out of 6, respectively. There were positive relationships between job satisfaction and the ethical behavior of co-worker, ethical climate, and self-ethical behavior. Therefore, this study could direct hospital administrators and healthcare professionals to develop proper strategies for promoting job satisfaction among critical care nurses, possibly by focusing on ethical behaviors and climates. Also, healthcare organizations can foster job satisfaction among critical care nurses by creating a more conducive work environment for nurses.

Keywords:

• Ethical behavior of a co-worker
• ethical climate
• job satisfaction
• critical care nurses
• self-ethical behavior

Acknowledgment

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee (Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan [39/7/2021-2022], Ministry of Health [MOH 6980], and selected private hospitals). Each participant provided informed consent before beginning the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Upon reasonable request.