Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Aim: This study aimed to explore the perceptions of third year nursing students regarding the ethics module at Shifa College of Nursing, Islamabad, Pakistan. Methods: Third year nursing students (n=26) completed a retrospective pre/post survey rating their knowledge before and after the ethics module. Focus group discussions (FGDs) addressed the importance of ethics teaching in nursing, the content, teaching and learning strategies of the module as well as whether the application of the concepts learned in the classroom were practiced in the clinical setting. Results: Participants rated their knowledge higher in the post-test (4.00) than the pretest questionnaire (2.26) (p=0.003). The main themes identified during the focus group discussions were: understanding their responsibilities towards the patient; an appreciation of the patient as a human being; applicability of the module to the clinical setting; the role of student nurses in ethical decision making in the clinical setting; and the teaching and learning strategies. The context of the nurse’s practice was also identified as being important. Conclusion: The participants valued the ethics module and its applicability to the clinical setting, but changes in the content of the module and the teaching and learning strategies were suggested.