Relationship between Hospital Ethical Climate and Nurses’ Moral Sensitivity at Benha University Hospitals

Background: Nurses in healthcare settings often encounter complex ethical dilemmas that demand a high degree of moral sensitivity the capacity to identify and appropriately address ethical issues. The hospital’s ethical climate plays a crucial role in influencing how these dilemmas are approached, shaping nurses’ professional conduct and decision making processes. Aim of the study: explore the relationship between hospital ethical climate and moral sensitivity among staff nurses at Benha University Hospital. Subjects and methods: Research design: A descriptive correlational design. Setting: the study was carried out at Benha University Hospitals in Qalyubia Governorate. Subjects: A stratified random sample of 375 nurses was selected. Tools of data collection: Data were collected using the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire and the Hospital Ethical Climate Questionnaire. Results: showed that 40.7% of the nurses demonstrated a high level of moral sensitivity, while 33.5% perceived the hospital’s ethical climate as high. Additionally, a statistically significant positive correlation was observed between the total scores of ethical climate and moral sensitivity (r = 0.726, p= 0.000). Conclusion: The results indicate that a notable proportion of nurses view the hospital’s ethical climate positively, and fewer than half exhibit high moral sensitivity. The study confirmed a strong positive relationship between hospital ethical climate and moral sensitivity among staff nurses. Recommendations: It is recommended to enhance nurses' moral sensitivity through ongoing professional development programs that emphasize ethical awareness, case based learning, and values-driven practice.