Big Five personality traits and ethical decision-making among nurses

Background Ethical decision-making plays a crucial role in addressing ethical challenges, and the importance of psychological factors in nursing has gained attention. However, research addressing the correlation between these traits and ethical decision-making capacity remains scarce, and the interactions between these factors remain unclear. Aim To explore the relationship between the personality traits and ethical decision-making abilities of nursing staff. Research design This is a descriptive and correlational study. Participants and research context The sample comprised 1956 nurses from seven Class III Grade A general hospitals in Shandong Province, China. Data was collected using a general information questionnaire, the Neuroticism Extraversion Openness Five-Factor Inventory, and the Judgement About Nursing Decision, and was analyzed using the Pearson correlation test and multiple hierarchical analysis. Ethical considerations The proposal was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Second Hospital of Shandong University, China. Participation in this study was voluntary. Consent was obtained and confidentiality kept. Results A significant positive correlation between the Big Five personality traits and ethical decision-making between nurses was revealed (r = 0.365, p < 0.001). The personality traits accounted for 16.4% of the overall variation in ethical decision-making. In addition, the participants’ ethical decision-making scores were at a moderate level. The average score for the Big Five personality traits was 192.29 (SD = 12.05). Conclusion The results showed a significant correlation between nurses’ Big Five personality traits and their ethical decision-making abilities. Therefore, hospital administrators could consider incorporating personality assessments into their staffing decisions to place nurses in roles that best align with their strengths. Furthermore, it is beneficial for nursing educators to recognize the importance of understanding how personality traits influence ethical decision-making, as well as the need for enhancing ethical awareness among nurses. Utilizing Big Five personality traits to predict ethical decision-making capabilities can facilitate effective nursing staff placement, ultimately enhancing the quality of nursing care delivery.