Abstract: Introduction: Nursing ethical sensitivity refers to a nurse’s capacity for thoughtful consideration of ethical issues when faced with dilemmas. In the nursing domain, ethical dilemmas arise when nurses face challenges in making sound ethical decisions during clinical practice. These challenges may stem from conflicts between personal values and professional responsibilities. Methodology: Articles downloaded from Pub Med, CNKI, and Google Scholar were reviewed. Results: After rigorous screening, a meticulous analysis was conducted, encompassing 10 articles and involving a substantial cohort of 2863 participants. Existing literature revealed variations in the ethical dilemmas faced by nurses across different departments. The ethical sensitivity of nurses also varies, with higher ethical sensitivity correlating with stronger empathetic abilities. Zhen et al. classified the causes of ethical dilemmas into four main categories: (1) Ethical dilemmas arising from personal reasons of nursing students; (2) Ethical dilemmas stemming from the actions of teachers; (3) Ethical dilemmas triggered by patients; (4) Ethical dilemmas resulting from miscellaneous reasons. Conclusion: According to literature findings, nursing ethical sensitivity was positively linked to the nurse’s ethical decision-making ability. A case study-oriented teaching program has proven effective in enhancing ethical sensitivity among nursing students.
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