Background: Moral courage is a recognized virtue. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the master's students of nursing (MSNs) in China have shown tenacious moral courage.
Objective: This study elaborates on the moral courage of Chinese MSNs through their experiences of volunteering during the pandemic.
Research design: Descriptive qualitative, interview-based.
Participants and research context: Participants were nursing postgraduate students who participated in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic selected by purposeful sampling. The sample size was determined by data saturation, which was reached with 10 participants. Data were analyzed using a deductive method of content analysis. Because of the isolation policy, telephone interviews were adopted.
Ethical considerations: After obtaining the approval of the ethical institution of the author's school (No. 138, 30 August 2021), verbal consent was obtained before the interview with the participants. All data were processed anonymously and confidentially. In addition, we recruited participants through MSNs' counselors, and obtained their phone numbers with their permission.
Results: Data analysis resulted in 15 subcategories that were subsequently grouped into 3 major categories including proceed without hesitation, the outcome of practicing moral courage, and develop and maintain moral courage.
Conclusion: This qualitative study is based on the special background of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the MSNs in China have shown tenacious moral courage in the work of epidemic prevention and control. Five factors led them to take action without hesitation, and six possible outcomes followed. Lastly, this study provides some suggestions for nurses and nursing students to enhance their moral courage. To better develop and support moral courage in the future, it is necessary to use different methods and multidisciplinary approaches to study moral courage.
Keywords: Moral courage; master’s students of nursing; nursing education; qualitative research; virtue ethics.