Relationship Between Spiritual Intelligence and Ethical Decision Making in Iranian Nurses

Background: Nurses, on a daily basis, face ethical dilemmas that arise from situations involving conflicting values or beliefs. Overall, ethical decision making of nurses seems to be a challenging aspect of their duties. This study has examined the relationship between spiritual intelligence and ethical decision making in nurses working in hospitals in Iran. Proportional stratified sampling was used in this study. Data were collected from 376 nurses who completed the Spiritual Intelligence Self-Report Inventory (SISRI) and Nursing Dilemma Test. Statistical analyses were done using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlations. Findings: The mean spiritual intelligence score was 49.5 ± 14.6, and mean ± SD of the Nursing Principled Thinking was 52.8 ± 12.1 and Practical Consideration was 28.16 ± 7.6. The mean score in the postconventional level was higher than the two other levels. Significant negative correlations exist between the preconventional component of the Nursing Dilemma Test and Personal Meaning Production and the Critical Existential Thinking components of the SISRI (p < .05). There were significant positive correlations between the postconventional (Nursing Principled) and Critical Existential Thinking, Personal Meaning Production, and total score of the SISRI. Conclusion: Hence, we have concluded that spiritual intelligence plays a positive role in the ethical decision making of nurses.