Professional Autonomy, Professional Quality of Life, and Moral Courage Among Emergency Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study in Northern Iran

Background and aim: Emergency nurses operate in highly demanding environments where professional autonomy is crucial for delivering safe and effective patient care. While Moral Courage and Professional Quality of Life (ProQoL) have both been linked to professional outcomes, their relationships with autonomy remain insufficiently understood in high-acuity emergency settings. This study aimed to examine the relationships among professional autonomy, moral courage, and ProQoL among emergency nurses in northern Iran.

Materials and methods

This multicenter cross-sectional study included 180 emergency nurses from 10 teaching hospitals in northern Iran in 2024. Participants were selected using proportionate stratified systematic random sampling. Autonomy, Moral Courage, and ProQoL were assessed using validated questionnaires. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics, Spearman's correlation, independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and multiple linear regression in SPSS Version 27 (p < 0.05).