The Perception of Islamic Nursing Ethics among Nurses in Pahang, Malaysia

Abstract

Introduction: A recent international survey discovered that nurses face a wide variety of ethical dilemmas. The intrinsic value of human thought and reliability can still be argued in major nursing ethics theories, such as deontology and utilitarianism. A Muslim nurse must be versed in Islamic thought. The issue is the extent to which Islamic nursing ethics can be applied to nursing practice continues to be debated. This study aims to examine nurses’ perceptions in two government hospitals in Pahang, Malaysia, regarding Islamic nursing ethics. Method: Between February and March 2017, a self-administered questionnaire assessing the comprehension of Islamic nursing ethics was developed, validated, tested, and distributed to nurses at Pahang’s Tunku Ampuan Afzan Hospital and Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Hospital (tertiary care hospitals). Convenience sampling was applied in this study.Results: The study collected complete data on 118 nurses. The frequency with which nurses encountered ethical dilemmas ranged from ‘daily’ to ‘yearly’. Only 24.6 per cent of nurses reported encountering ethical dilemmas in their work. 43.2 per cent of nurses responded that they are ‘moderately’ knowledgeable about the Islamic nursing ethics applicable to their work. Over half (69.5 per cent) of nurses scored at a moderate level, while 17.8 per cent perceived Islamic nursing ethics competently. Only 20.3 per cent of respondents believed that adherence to patients’ wishes is consistent with Islamic nursing ethics. Conclusion: Nursing and religious authorities should take more actions to develop the understanding and awareness of Islamic nursing ethics to make it understandable for all Muslim nurses.