Moral sensitivity and critical thinking disposition of nursing students in K orea

This study aimed to examine the level of moral sensitivity and critical thinking disposition among baccalaureate nursing students in K orea. A convenience sample of 142 undergraduate nursing students was surveyed on moral sensitivity using the K orean version of the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire ( K ‐ MSQ ) and on critical thinking disposition using the Critical Thinking Disposition Questionnaire ( CTDQ ). Data were collected from J une 2009 to J uly 2010. Mean score was 2.83 out of 7 on the K ‐ MSQ (relatively low) and 3.70 out of 5 on the CTDQ (relatively high), indicating the need for nursing educators to continue to develop and incorporate strategies that enhance moral sensitivity into ethics courses in undergraduate nursing programs in K orea. Nursing students who regarded nursing as a lifelong career exhibited stronger critical thinking disposition than did students who considered nursing to be a temporary or premarital job. Moral sensitivity should be further emphasized in nursing ethics courses in undergraduate nursing programs in K orea.