Simulation pedagogy in learning ethics in practice in health care

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Ethical capability is an important part of a healthcare professional’s competence. The WHO Global Competency Model states several core qualities that are related to ethical competence, for example active listening and respecting others’ individuality according to the ethical and legal framework and personal values. Unfortunately, about 30 % of patients´ complaints concern unethical behavior of the health care staff: there are problems with ethical sensitivity and respectful communication. Today ethical competence has an important role, due to for example increased number of patients with different cultural backgrounds, like immigrants and refugees. Including these ethical aspects in nursing students´ education is a totally new perspective, but extremely important. The overall objective of the project is to create three common study courses (6 ETCS) in order to develop more aligned VET programmes and increase ethical competence of nursing students in the Central Baltic region. As a result, the courses are embedded in each partner organisations curricula: Turku University of Applied Sciences, Riga Medical College of the University of Latvia and The Swedish Red Cross University College. Common courses and teaching methods ensure the more harmonized education level in the region and also more harmonized competence level of nurses working in these countries. Development of the ethical competence of nursing students is done with help of multi-various methods, like simulation and practical training. Simulation environment is a safe and effective way for students to learn and practice complex ethical skills. The patients and health care providers in the Central Baltic region need more nurses who possess equal and ethically competitive nursing care. This can be achieved by building more aligned curricula in nursing education. Improved ethical skills serve the needs of healthcare providers, promote the mobility of workforce and increase the quality of patient care.

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