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Moral Distress and Associated Factors Among Baccalaureate Nursing Students: A Multisite Descriptive Study
Lorretta Krautscheid1, Deborah A DeMeester, Valorie Orton
1About the Authors Lorretta Krautscheid, PhD, RN, CNE, is an assistant professor, University of Portland School of Nursing, Portland, Oregon. Deborah A. DeMeester, PhD, RN, CNE, is a clinical assistant professor and assistant dean for prelicensure programs, Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis, Indiana. Valorie Orton, MS, RN, CNL, is an instructor of nursing, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, Washington. Austin Smith, BSN, is a registered nurse for Providence Health Systems, Portland, Oregon. Conor Livingston, BSN, is a registered nurse for Swedish Hospital, Seattle, Washington. Susan M. McLennon, PhD, ANP-BC, is an associate professor, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee. For more information, contact Dr. Krautscheid at krautsch@up.edu.
Aim:
The three study aims were to assess moral distress among senior baccalaureate nursing students, describe ethical dilemmas contributing to their moral distress in practice settings, and identify reasons for inaction when encountering dilemmas.
Background:
Previous studies have linked postlicensure nurses' moral distress to compassion fatigue, frustration, and turnover. Little is known about this phenomenon in students.
Method:
This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional survey design to measure moral distress and reasons for not taking action across three academic sites (N = 267). Content analysis was used to identify themes of distressing clinical situations.
Results:
Aggregate mean moral distress rating was 3.12. Content analysis revealed compromised best practices, disrespect for human dignity, perceived constraints, and navigating personal values. The most frequent reasons for inaction were subordinate role, relationship preservation, incomplete knowledge, and uncertainty about speaking up.
Conclusion:
Results help educators prioritize strategies to prevent and manage moral distress among students.
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