Moral learning in nursing education: a discussion of the usefulness of cognitive-developmental and social learning theories.

The preparation of students for ethically sound practice is an essential concern for nurse educators. The theories of cognitive development and social learning theory are discussed as explanations of moral learning. The implications of the application of each of these theories to nursing education are discussed and the usefulness of each theory to nurse educators is reviewed. It is argued that neither theory is entirely satisfactory for application to nursing education and it is concluded that a pragmatic eclecticism is desirable in the approach to moral education in nursing.