The relationship between professional values and caring behaviors of nurses in neonatal intensive care units

Jie Yang

doi:10.63313/hmt.9003

Authors

Jie Yang Philippine Christian University, Manila, 1004, Philippines Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63313/hmt.9003

Keywords:

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Professional Values, Nursing Ethics, End-of-Life Care, Nurse Competency

Abstract

Providing end-of-life (EOL) care in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) poses significant ethical and emotional challenges for nurses. Professional values, including compassion, dignity, and respect, are central to how nurses navigate these situations. This paper highlights the role of ethical climate, moral distress, and organizational support in shaping nurses' EOL care behaviors.

References

[1] Afrasiabifar, A., Mosavi, A., Dehbanizadeh, A., & Khaki, S. (2021). Nurses’ caring behaviour and its correlation with moral sensitivity. Journal of Research in Nursing, 26(3), 252-261.

[2] Ahmed, R., & TAMIM, T. R. (2025). Enhancing Medication Safety: The Role of Community and Hospital Pharmacists in Modern Healthcare Systems. Radinka Journal of Health Sci-ence, 2(3), 328-355.

[3] Alanazi, M. A., Shaban, M. M., Ramadan, O. M. E., Zaky, M. E., Mohammed, H. H., Amer, F. G. M., & Shaban, M. (2024). Navigating end-of-life decision-making in nursing: a systematic review of ethical challenges and palliative care practices. BMC nursing, 23(1), 467.

[4] Alqarawi, N., & Alhalal, E. (2024). Factors affecting family-centered care practice by nurses: A systematic review. Journal of pediatric nursing, 78, 158-171.

[5] Alrwaili, I. A., Alanazi, R. R. S., Alhazmi, S. H. B., Awadalbanagi, N. H., Alenizi, W., Alenazi, N. G. K., & Alenezi, H. S. (2022). THE ROLE OF NURSING CARE IN ADVANCING HEALTH EQUITY. Neuropsychopharmacologia Hungarica, 20(4).

[6] Ayed, A. (2025). The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Coping Behaviors Among Nurses in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. SAGE Open Nursing, 11, 23779608251330097.

[7] Ayed, A., Ejheisheh, M. A., Salameh, B., Batran, A., Obeyat, A., Melhem, R., & Alkhatib, S. (2024). Insights into the relationship between professional values and caring behavior among nurses in neonatal intensive care units. BMC nursing, 23(1), 692.

[8] Barr, P. (2022). Moral distress and burnout in NICU nurses. Journal of Obstetric, Gyneco-logic & Neonatal Nursing, 51(4), 441-449.

[9] Basit, G., Erkuş Küçükkelepçe, G., & Arslan Şeker, S. (2022, November). The relationship between nurses' professional values and caring behaviors. In Nursing Forum (Vol. 57, No. 6, pp. 1044-1051).

[10] De Brasi, E. L., Giannetta, N., Ercolani, S., Gandini, E. L. M., Moranda, D., Villa, G., & Manara, D. F. (2021). Nurses' moral distress in end-of-life care: A qualitative study. Nursing ethics, 28(5), 614-627.

[11] Hassan, E. A., & Elsayed, S. M. (2025). Exploring resilience in critical care nursing: a qualita-tive inquiry into continuous adaptation, collaborative unity, and emotional balance. BMC nursing, 24(1), 238.

[12] Hofmeyer, A., & Taylor, R. (2021). Strategies and resources for nurse leaders to use to lead with empathy and prudence so they understand and address sources of anxiety among nurses practising in the era of COVID‐19. Journal of clinical nursing, 30(1-2), 298-305.

[13] Ibrahim, A. M. (2024). Nurses’ ethical responsibilities: Whistleblowing and advocacy in pa-tient safety. Nursing ethics, 31(7), 1289-1314.

[14] Ibrahim, A. M., Zaghamir, D. E. F., Ramadan Abdel-Aziz, H., Elalem, O. M., Al-Yafeai, T. M., Sultan, H. M. S., ... & Mersal, F. A. (2024). Ethical issues in palliative care: nursing and quality of life. BMC nursing, 23(1), 854.

[15] Kaya, A., Düzgün, M. V., & Boz, İ. (2023). The relationship between professional values, ethical sensitivities and caring behaviors among nursing students: a structural equation modeling approach. Nurse education in practice, 70, 103676.

[16] Messineo, L., Seta, L., & Allegra, M. (2021). The relationship between empathy and altruistic motivations in nursing studies: a multi-method study. BMC nursing, 20, 1-10.

[17] Nazari, A. M., Bakhtiari-Dovvombaygi, H., Borhani, F., Abbaszadeh, A., Gholami, M., & Bakhshalizadeh Rashti, S. (2025). The relationship between ethical sensitivity, caring be-havior and quality of care in nurses: A systematic review. BMC nursing, 24(1), 329.

[18] Queen-Lomas, M. (2024). Night Shift Acute Care Nurse Narratives: Exploring Collaborative Solutions to Reduce Burnout, Increase Morale and Engagement, and Improve Retention.

[19] Stephany, K. (2022). Cultivating empathy: Inspiring health professionals to communicate more effectively (Revised Edition). Bentham Science Publishers.

[20] Turner, L. (2025). Staffing and quality of care of inpatient maternity services (Doctoral dissertation, University of Southampton).

[21] Xiao, Q., Cooke, F. L., & Chen, L. (2022). Nurses’ well‐being and implications for human resource management: A systematic literature review. International Journal of Manage-ment Reviews, 24(4), 599-624.

[22] Yun, J. Y., & Cho, I. Y. (2021). Structural equation model for developing person-centered care competency among senior nursing students. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(19), 10421.