LAUSR

AIM To identify the predictors of mental health nurses' person-centered care, including moral sensitivity. BACKGROUND Person-centered care meets patients' ethical needs by protecting their autonomy and dignity, and respecting their choices; it is essential to enhance patient outcomes. Therefore, it is important to identify the predictors of the practice of advocating patients' rights and dignity, and providing person-centered care among mental health nurses to foster competency and ensure the highest quality of care. METHODS This cross-sectional study included 220 mental health nurses in South Korea. It measured their general and work-related characteristics, moral sensitivity, and person-centered care. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify the person-centered care predictors. RESULTS The most potent person-centered care predictor was moral sensitivity (β=.35, p<.001). Other predictors included prior biomedical ethics education (β=.15, p=.013) and marital status (β=.14, p=.025). The regression model had 28.0% explanatory power. CONCLUSIONS Mental health nurses' moral sensitivity must be increased to improve their person-centered care. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT Nurses should receive continuous education to remain aware of and maintain a high level of moral sensitivity and be encouraged to continue the person-centered practice. Organizational and policy support is needed to promote the practice of person-centered care in the workplace.