Relationship between nurses' perceptions of conscience and perceptions of individualized nursing care: A cross-sectional study

Purpose To identify the relationship between the perception of conscience and individualized nursing care. Design and Methods A cross-sectional study. The sample of the study consisted of 326 nurses working in internal medicine and surgical clinics. The data were collected using the Nurses' Perceptions of Conscience Questionnaire and Individualized Care Scale-Nurse (ICSA) Version. Findings Their mean score for the ICSA-Nurse was 3.96 +/- 0.72. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between their scores for the ICSA-Nurse and Voice of Conscience and basic qualities of conscience. Conclusion The participants considered their conscience as a reference when performing their care actions and defined conscience as an expression of social and spiritual values. Practice Implications Nurses' awareness of perceptions of conscience and the effect of conscience on the patient-nurse relationship can help them to provide more sensitive care to their patients.