Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 27, 2026
Objective Nociceptive Assessment in Ventilated ICU Patients: A Feasibility Study Using Pupillometry and the Nociceptive Flexion Reflex
Published on: July 4, 2018
Consequences of Moral Distress in the Intensive Care Unit: A Qualitative Study
Natalie J Henrich1, Peter M Dodek2, Emilie Gladstone1
1Natalie J. Henrich was a qualitative researcher at the Center for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Peter M. Dodek is a professor, Center for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, St Paul's Hospital, and Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Emilie Gladstone was a graduate student, Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York. Lynn Alden is a professor, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia. Sean P. Keenan is a clinical associate professor, Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of British Columbia. Steven Reynolds is a clinical associate professor, Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of British Columbia. Patricia Rodney is an associate professor, School of Nursing, University of British Columbia.
Background:
Moral distress is common among personnel in the intensive care unit, but the consequences of this distress are not well characterized.
Objective:
To examine the consequences of moral distress in personnel in community and tertiary intensive care units in Vancouver, Canada.
Methods:
Data for this study were obtained from focus groups and analysis of transcripts by themes and sub-themes in 2 tertiary care intensive care units and 1 community intensive care unit.
Results:
According to input from 19 staff nurses (3 focus groups), 4 clinical nurse leaders (1 focus group), 13 physicians (3 focus groups), and 20 other health professionals (3 focus groups), the most commonly reported emotion associated with moral distress was frustration. Negative impact on patient care due to moral distress was reported 26 times, whereas positive impact on patient care was reported 11 times and no impact on patient care was reported 10 times. Having thoughts about quitting working in the ICU was reported 16 times, and having no thoughts about quitting was reported 14 times.
Conclusion:
In response to moral distress, health care providers experience negative emotional consequences, patient care is perceived to be negatively affected, and nurses and other health care professionals are prone to consider quitting working in the intensive care unit.
More Related Videos
12:22Mindfulness in Motion MIM: An Onsite Mindfulness Based Intervention MBI for Chronically High Stress Work Environments to Increase Resiliency and Work Engagement
Published on: July 1, 2015
08:25Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment
Published on: December 6, 2024
Related Concept Videos
01:27Ethical Issues
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
01:30Ethical Dilemmas II
01:08Obedience
01:27Nursing Ethical Principles II
Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how these principles are applied in the care of Mr. John, a fifty-year-old teacher diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer.
Initially, Mr. John's...
01:17Ethical Dilemmas I
Let us explore some examples to understand the potentially complex moral decisions nurses face.
Take the case of caring for minors, particularly in areas related to reproductive...
01:22Nursing Ethical Principles I
Autonomy
Autonomy underscores the significance of a patient's self-determination and freedom from external control. In healthcare, respecting...