Application of an Ashridge Training Model-Based Ethics and Moral Course in Newly Graduated Nurses

NCT ID: NCT07193238

Last Updated: 2025-09-25

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

120 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-01-01

Study Completion Date

2023-12-31

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The objective of this historical control trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of an Ethics and Moral Course, based on the Ashridge training model, in newly graduated nurses. The primary questions it aims to address are: (1) What is the impact of integrating moral education into the standardized training of newly employed nurses on their professional outlook? (2) Can this study enhance the humanistic care abilities and overall competencies of newly graduated nurses?

Researchers compared two groups of newly employed nurses (without work experience) at a specific hospital. The control group received conventional training, while the intervention group underwent a moral education curriculum designed in three stages based on the Ashridge training model, in addition to traditional training. Post-training, the two groups were compared in terms of their sense of professional mission, perceived professional benefits, humanistic care abilities, theoretical knowledge, and practical skills performance.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

With the continuous development of the healthcare sector, nursing personnel face increasingly higher professional demands. Newly graduated nurses, lacking work experience, are particularly prone to ethical dilemmas during their transition from nursing students to clinical practitioners. Ophthalmology and otolaryngology diseases often affect patients' sensory functions and quality of life, imposing higher competency requirements on Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat (EENT) nurses. Standardized training, as a crucial transitional period for new nurses, presents an optimal opportunity to integrate ethical education, thereby fostering their professional outlook and moral qualities.

This study underscores the importance of structured ethical and moral education during this critical transition period. The investigators first developed an ethics and morality curriculum tailored for new EENT nurses based on the Ashridge training model, followed by a non-randomized controlled trial to evaluate its effectiveness. Newly employed nurses (new graduates without work experience) at a tertiary specialized hospital in Shanghai were selected as study subjects. Sixty new nurses employed between January 2022 and December 2022 served as the control group and received conventional training. Between January 2023 and December 2023, sixty newly employed nurses served as the intervention group, receiving an ethics and morality curriculum designed in three phases based on the Ashridge training model, in addition to conventional training.

A mixed-methods research design was adopted. The investigators surveyed the sense of professional mission, professional benefit perception, humanistic care ability, theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and scenario-based case simulation performance in both groups post-training. The qualitative component used purposive sampling to conduct semi-structured interviews with 18 new nurses. Thematic framework analysis was employed to extract viewpoints, categorize reasoning, and summarize themes.

The results indicated that the intervention group outperformed the control group across all measured parameters (P \< 0.05). The results highlight the effectiveness of our course in enhancing the professional identity, ethical decision-making, and humanistic care abilities of newly graduated nurses. Our qualitative interviews further complemented the quantitative findings, providing valuable insights for the development of ethical and moral education courses for new nurses.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Professional Sense of Mission Professional Benefit Perception Humanistic Care Ability Theoretical Knowledge and Practical Skills Performance New Graduated Nurses The Ethics and Moral Course

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

NON_RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

The Ashridge training model, originating in 1986, was developed by a research project team at Ashridge Management College. It divides training activities into three stages: discrete stage, integration stage, and cumulative stage. This model places significant emphasis on both individual and organizational learning.
Primary Study Purpose

OTHER

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants
The intervention study employed a single-blind design, keeping subjects unaware of the specific interventions and whether they were assigned to the control or intervention group.

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Control group

The control group underwent a conventional one-year training for newly graduated nurses, initially consisting of centralized training by the hospital and nursing departments, covering regulations, laws, medical ethics, nursing professional spirit, specialized theory, and basic operational training. Upon entering their respective departments, one-on-one mentorship was provided by instructors, teaching basic nursing, specialized disease care, basic and specialized nursing operations, and nursing workflows. Theoretical knowledge was delivered through PPT lectures, while nursing skill training included demonstrations, explanations, and organized practice. Real-time guidance was provided during the learning process, with periodic assessments in theory and practice to ensure learning outcomes.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Intervention group

In addition to the same training as the control group, the intervention group received the Ethics and Moral Course based on the Ashridge training model, tailored for newly graduated nurses.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

The Ethics and Moral Course based on the Ashridge training model

Intervention Type OTHER

Based on the three-stage characteristics of the Ashridge training model, the developed the content of this ethics course. (1) Discrete stage (within 3 months of employment): This stage aims to initially cultivate the professional identity of new nurses, stimulating humanistic awareness. It primarily involves self-study, supplemented by instructor supervision and implicit positive guidance. (2) Integrated stage (4-6 months of employment): This stage combines professional identity with actual work, enhancing humanistic care abilities in practice. It emphasizes mutual sharing between instructors and new nurses, utilizing diverse training methods to promote experience and reflection. (3) Cumulative stage (7-12 months of employment): This stage develops critical thinking and ethical problem-solving abilities. It focuses on assessing comprehensive abilities in complex nursing situations, providing feedback on the teaching plan, and evaluating training effectiveness.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

The Ethics and Moral Course based on the Ashridge training model

Based on the three-stage characteristics of the Ashridge training model, the developed the content of this ethics course. (1) Discrete stage (within 3 months of employment): This stage aims to initially cultivate the professional identity of new nurses, stimulating humanistic awareness. It primarily involves self-study, supplemented by instructor supervision and implicit positive guidance. (2) Integrated stage (4-6 months of employment): This stage combines professional identity with actual work, enhancing humanistic care abilities in practice. It emphasizes mutual sharing between instructors and new nurses, utilizing diverse training methods to promote experience and reflection. (3) Cumulative stage (7-12 months of employment): This stage develops critical thinking and ethical problem-solving abilities. It focuses on assessing comprehensive abilities in complex nursing situations, providing feedback on the teaching plan, and evaluating training effectiveness.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Newly graduated nurses with no prior clinical nursing experience.
* Possession of a nurse licensure certificate.
* Currently undergoing a one-year standardized training for newly graduated nurses.
* Voluntary participation in the study with informed consent signed by the nurse.

Exclusion Criteria

* Newly graduated nurses on medical leave exceeding three months or those in a non-working status during the study period, including maternity leave, sick leave, or vacation.
* Nurses with a recent history of major traumatic events leading to mental debilitation or psychological trauma.
Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

EYE & ENT Hospital, Fudan University

Shanghai, , China

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

China

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Huang Y. An Empirical Study on Evaluation of Humanistic Caring Ability of Nursing Undergraduates. Master, Fujian Medical University, 2007.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Hu J. Study on Conceptual Framework and Evaluation Tool of Nurse's Perceived Professional Benefits. Master, Second Military Medical University, 2013.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Dobrow SR and Tosti-Kharas J. Calling: The development of a scale measure. Personnel Psychology 2011; 64: 1001-1049.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Zhou Y. Research on the Relationship between Career Calling, Career Commitment and Career Success. Master, Jilin University, 2013.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Missen K, McKenna L, Beauchamp A. Satisfaction of newly graduated nurses enrolled in transition-to-practice programmes in their first year of employment: a systematic review. J Adv Nurs. 2014 Nov;70(11):2419-33. doi: 10.1111/jan.12464. Epub 2014 Jul 2.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24989716 (View on PubMed)

Cavanagh N, Cockett G, Heinrich C, Doig L, Fiest K, Guichon JR, Page S, Mitchell I, Doig CJ. Compassion fatigue in healthcare providers: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nurs Ethics. 2020 May;27(3):639-665. doi: 10.1177/0969733019889400. Epub 2019 Dec 12.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31829113 (View on PubMed)

Reebals C, Wood T, Markaki A. Transition to Practice for New Nurse Graduates: Barriers and Mitigating Strategies. West J Nurs Res. 2022 Apr;44(4):416-429. doi: 10.1177/0193945921997925. Epub 2021 Mar 16.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 33724088 (View on PubMed)

Hallaran AJ, Edge DS, Almost J, Tregunno D. New Nurses' Perceptions on Transition to Practice: A Thematic Analysis. Can J Nurs Res. 2023 Mar;55(1):126-136. doi: 10.1177/08445621221074872. Epub 2022 Jan 24.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35068206 (View on PubMed)

Rattanasirivilai P, Shirodkar AL. A study of the role and educational needs of ophthalmic specialist nurses. Br J Nurs. 2021 Jul 22;30(14):858-864. doi: 10.12968/bjon.2021.30.14.858.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 34288742 (View on PubMed)

Haahr A, Norlyk A, Martinsen B, Dreyer P. Nurses experiences of ethical dilemmas: A review. Nurs Ethics. 2020 Feb;27(1):258-272. doi: 10.1177/0969733019832941. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30975034 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

FNEF202115

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

SYSZ2303

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

Ashridge Training Model

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

Empathy Training for Psychology Students Trainees
NCT06352034 NOT_YET_RECRUITING NA