Background <p>It is extremely important for nursing students to adopt ethical principles during their education, to recognize ethical dilemmas, to develop ethical sensitivity and compassionate care behaviors in order to prepare them for a complex and challenging working environment.</p> Aim <p>This research was conducted to examine the relationship between attitudes towards ethical principles, ethical sensitivity and caring behaviors among nursing students.</p> Design <p>Quantitative and cross-sectional research.</p> Methods <p>The study was conducted in the nursing program of a state university in Türkiye. Data were gathered utilizing a personal information form, the Ethical Principles Attitude Scale (EPAS), the Ethical Sensitivity Questionnaire for Nursing Students (ESQ-NS), and the Caring Behaviors Assessment Tool Nursing Version-Short Form (CBAN-SF).</p> Results <p>This study revealed that the mean EPAS score for nursing students was 143.5 ± 14.3, the mean ESQ-NS score was 39.1 ± 4.6, and the mean CBAN-SF score was 117.6 ± 13.3. A positive, moderate, and substantial connection was identified between EPAS and ESQ-NS (<i>r</i> = 0.443) as well as CBAN-SF (<i>r</i> = 0.533). Moreover, views about ethical principles were identified as predictors of ethical sensitivity and compassionate behaviors in nursing students; a one-unit increase in the EPAS score led to a 19% variation in the ESQ-NS score and a 28% variation in the CBAN-SF score.</p> Conclusion <p>The study revealed that an enhancement in nursing students’ attitudes towards ethical principles correlated with an improvement in their ethical sensitivity and a more positive perception of their own caring activities.</p> Clinical trial number <p>Not applicable.</p>