The Relationship Between Social Media Attitude and Ethical Sensitivity of Student Nurses

Introduction: Social media plays a vital role in student nurses’ academic and personal lives, influencing communication, learning, and professional identity. As future healthcare professionals, they must demonstrate ethical sensitivity in both clinical and online settings. Aim: This study aimed to assess student nurses’ attitudes toward social media, their ethical sensitivity, and the relationship between the two variables. Methods: A descriptive-correlational design was used with 384 student nurses from three universities in Baguio City. Data collection was approved by the SLU Research Ethics Committee and coordinated with institutional offices. The Responsible Use of Social Media Attitude Scale (RUSMAS) and Ethical Sensitivity Questionnaire (ESQ) were utilized. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Respondents showed positive attitudes toward social media (x̄ = 55.97) and high ethical sensitivity (x̄=127.48). A weak but statistically significant positive correlation (r = 0.2851) was found, indicating that student nurses with more responsible social media behavior tended to exhibit higher ethical sensitivity. Conclusion: Student nurses demonstrate both high ethical sensitivity and positive attitudes toward responsible social media use. However, a positive attitude alone may not strongly determine ethical sensitivity.