Abstract
Background: Ethical debates as an active learning strategy encourage students to think critically through complex ethical issues while using evidence-based literature to compare views and support decision-making actions that affect patient outcomes.
Problem: The current complexity of health care implies that nurses will continue to encounter ethical dilemmas that demand essential knowledge of ethical principles, critical thinking strategies, and practical communication skills.
Approach: Student groups were assigned a health care-related ethical issue and collaborated to present their pro or con position. The American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Baccalaureate Essentials guided the structure of the student debates.
Conclusion: Utilizing the ANA Code and AACN Essentials as supportive frameworks to guide students' ethical debate preparation and execution enhanced students' knowledge and supported their critical thinking about ethical issues in health care.