Iranian Journal of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine

Ethics is elemental in all lines of work, but more so in the nursing profession, since the ethical and responsible conduct of nurses can have an important role in promoting patient recovery. As members of a large group in the field of medical science, nurses need to be equipped with sound professional ethics in their interactions with others.

The present study was a descriptive survey of the relationship between professional ethics and the efficiency of nurses. Study population consisted of the nurses employed in Imam Hospital and Mostafa Khomeini Hospital in Ilam. Sample size was determined at 134 using the Cochran formula, and 126 completed the professional ethics and efficiency questionnaire. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by experts, and its reliability was established by Cronbach's alpha test. Subsequently, the main hypothesis and the eight sub-hypotheses were examined.

The subjects consisted of 89 males and 37 females, of which 50 percent were aged between 20 and 35, 42% between 36 and 50, and 6% between 51 and 60 years. In terms of education level, 7 subjects had high school diplomas, 18 associate degrees, 42 were undergraduate and 59 graduate students and higher. The findings showed a significant correlation (0.002) between professional ethics and the efficiency of nurses. Results of the Pearson’s correlation test confirmed the relationship between accountability, honesty, fairness, loyalty, respect for others, and the efficiency of the nurses employed in Imam ​​and Mostafa Khomeini Hospitals, Ilam. No significant correlation was found, however, between the components of superiority and sympathy in nurses and their efficiency.

Considering the relationship between professional ethics and the efficiency of the nurses in these two hospitals, it is recommended to improve their performance through continuous training and promotion of nursing ethics.