Ethical Activity Profile of Nurse Managers -Testing Ethics Quarter as an Intervention

Ethical Activity Profile of Nurse Managers -Testing Ethics Quarter as an Intervention

The aim of this study is:

1. to test a new ethics educational intervention for nurse mangers, Ethics Quarter (EQ) and
2. to measure the feasibility and the usability of the EQ

The detailed research questions and hypothesis of this study are as follows:

1. Is EQ effective in increasing NMs' ethics knowledge?

2. Is EQ effective in increasing NMs' influencing ethics issues?

3. Is EQ effective in increasing NMs' ethics research implementing?

4. Is EQ effective in increasing NMs' ethics problem identifying?

5. Is EQ effective in increasing NMs' ethics problem solving?

   H 1-5: It is hypothesized that participating into EQ promotes NM's ethics knowledge, influencing ethics issues, ethics research implementing, ethics problem identifying and ethics problem solving compared to comparisons.

6. What are NM's perceptions of feasibility and usability of the EQ?

The ultimate goal is to strengthen nurse managers' ethical activity profile and create a new, modern way to promote ethical management of nursing.

A new educational intervention, EQ, for nurse managers has developed. Intervention development has evaluated by using criteria for complex interventions in health care (CReDECI)- guideline (Möhler et al. 2012). EQ intervention is based on distance learning method and it consists of 12 educational packages included in the virtual learning environment www.etiikanvartti.fi.

Effectiveness of EQ intervention will be tested by using an individually randomized controlled trial with baseline-, post- and follow-up-measurements.The intervention group will participate in the educational EQ intervention and the control group will not participate.

Data will be collected via the membership register of the Union of Health and Social Care Professionals in Finland (Tehy) trade union. This union is a national interest group for nurses, nurse managers and advanced consultants/specialists in the social and health-care sector having a Master's degree (nursing science or related) or registered nurses degree.

Based on statistical power analysis, the required sample size for the study will be 87 NMs at both groups, at 80%, 0.05 significance level.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Working as a nurse manager
• Finnish-speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unwilling to provide consent