Background: The development of professional values in nursing students is an important issue for the nursing profession. However, the research on nursing students' professional values and its related factors is very limited.
Purpose: This cross-sectional and correlational study aimed to examine the mediating effect of empathy between moral sensitivity and professional values.
Methods: This study was conducted with 328 second, third and fourth-year students. The participants completed an online survey consisting of the student information form, Modified Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire for Student Nurses, Empathic Tendency Scale and Nursing Professional Values Scale.
Results: The results showed that moral sensitivity affected undergraduate nursing students' professional values not only directly but also indirectly through empathic tendency.
Conclusions: The results of the study show that moral sensitivity and empathic tendency support the acquisition of professional values in undergraduate nursing students. Nurse educators needs to realize that can be improved professional values by integrating moral sensitivity and empathic tendency in their curriculum.
Keywords: Empathy; Ethics; Mediation analysis; Moral sensitivity; Nursing students; Professional values; Undergraduate nursing course.
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