Health Sciences

School of Public Health

Higher Degree Research Students/Alumni Profiles

Dr Michael Groome

PhD Thesis, completed in 2005

An Exploration of the Moral Development of Nursing Students

This thesis reports the findings of a study exploring nursing students' perceptions of what they regard as the influences upon their moral development. The study's aim was to gain an understanding and feeling for how nursing students' believe childhood and adolescent experiences shaped their development of a sense of morality and if they saw particular relationships as important influences for them. A key aspect involved questioning the possible mediating influence of emotions in these experiences, together with their perceptions of what is important to them in moral and ethical decision-making. Participants provided these comments through a questionnaire and interview responses.When recalling significant events and relationships in their lives most participants were able to report experiencing a range of various strong emotional responses. Of all possible experiences and relationships, most participants saw their mothers as the most important influence in their moral development. The most commonly reported parenting style was authoritative. A majority of participants showed a care - oriented moral decision-making style in response to a hypothetical dilemma. Although these findings are similar to those within the field of morality research and development, it is believed that this is the first time they have been reported in regard to nursing students in Australia. It is hoped that this study will lead to greater understanding of nursing students' pre - entry moral development. and lead to the provision of a nurturing environment which will assist in ethical decision - making education of nursing students Conclusions drawn: Perception of ethics inherent in that relationship leads to the conclusion that the growing child and adolescent develops constructions of caring within the family, particularly within the mother - child dyad. Strength of emotional response is influential in constructing and justifying current moral decision-making.

Dr Michael Groome is a Psychologist and nurse with interests in the area of mental health, human development and communication. He has been involved in mental health from the days of the large institutions to outpatient clinical work, having mainly worked in the fields of individual and group psychotherapy with adults and adolescents; drug rehabilitation and child and adolescent psychiatry, as welll as primary, secondary and tertiary consultation in the youth welfare field. His medical-surgical nursing experience has ranged from working in wards in various settings to district nursing. He is a member of the APS College of Clinical Psychologists and the Royal College of Nursing Australia. He is currently a lecturer at ACU National, teaching in the areas of mental health - psychological aspects of care; nursing communication skills; adolescent health - lifespan development; and long term health problems - chronicity. His research interestsa child and adolescent development and care theories.