Jill Burkemper, PhD

Since 1989 no study has been published describing in detail how ethics is taught in MSN programs nationwide. Changes in graduate nursing education since that time make it appropriate to reexamine the trends in MSN ethics education. This study will look at these trends, addressing questions such as: What percentage of MSN nursing programs require a course in ethics? What percentage of MSN programs specialize ethics requirements according to distinct tracks of study? What are the objectives, topics, teaching methods, and grading methods for required ethics courses or formal ethics components of required courses? The answers gained in this study will help deans, program directors, and ethics instructors to discern content and methods of ethics education that are essential in preparing master’s level nursing students to meet the ethical challenges in their profession. Helping nursing graduates to meet such challenges serves the NLN Research Priority of “competencies of nursing graduates for 21st century practice.”