Development and application of an online learning platform for nursing ethics: A teaching practice research

Background: It is crucial to diversify the methods for clinical nurses to continue learning nursing ethics in that ethical decision-making ability in nursing is regarded as one of the core competencies in nursing practice. Objective: In response to nurses' learning needs for nursing ethics, this study built an online learning platform for the pertinent topic, and tested its effect on improving nurses' ethical decision-making ability and critical thinking ability. Design: A qualitative method was adopted to develop interventions, which were designed as a teaching practice research consisting of a study group and a control group. Participants: A total of 93 nurses, including 20 interviewees and 30 in the study group and 43 in the control group. Method: Qualitative methods were employed to understand the learning needs of nurses. The judgment about nursing decisions and the critical thinking disposition inventory, learning effectiveness questionnaire and learning software quality evaluation scale were used as research tools in this teaching practice research. The SPSS 25.0 was adopted to analyze data by paired sample t -test and independent sample t-test. Results: In the measurement of the judgment about nursing decisions scale, the study group scored higher than the control group. The critical thinking disposition inventory scale identified a similar result in the total score incorporating the four dimensions, including analyticity, systematicity, critical thinking self-confidence, inquisitiveness. There is a correlation between learning software quality and learning effect, with a correlation coefficient of 0.640. Conclusion: The online learning platform of nursing ethics built in this study has positive learning effects, and it demonstrates effectiveness to improve nurses' abilities in nursing ethics, decision-making and critical thinking. It is expected to be a viable way to improve the continuity of nurses' study of ethics.