Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 20, 2026

Halogenated Agent Delivery in Porcine Model of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome via an Intensive Care Unit Type Device
09:36

Halogenated Agent Delivery in Porcine Model of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome via an Intensive Care Unit Type Device

Published on: September 24, 2020

3.1K

Moral Distress in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: An Italian Study

Patrizio Sannino1, Maria Lorella Giannì2,3, Micaela Carini2

  • 1Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Direzione Professioni Sanitarie, Milan, Italy.

Frontiers in Pediatrics
|August 29, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric intensive care unit nurses in Italy experience moral distress, particularly during end-of-life care and resuscitation. Higher distress is linked to patient deaths and intent to leave the job.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nursing
  • Bioethics
  • Critical Care Medicine

Background:

  • Moral distress is under-researched in Italian pediatric intensive care settings.
  • Nurses face ethical challenges impacting their well-being and potentially patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the frequency, intensity, and level of moral distress in Italian pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) nurses.
  • Identify specific clinical situations causing moral distress.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 136 nurses in eight PICUs.
  • Utilized the modified Italian version of the Moral Distress Scale Neonatal-Pediatric Version (MDSNPV).
  • Scored frequency, intensity, and level of distress for 21 clinical items.

Main Results:

  • Mean scores for frequency, intensity, and level of moral distress were 24.1, 36.2, and 57.7, respectively.
  • End-of-life care and resuscitation were primary sources of moral distress.
  • Higher distress was associated with more patient deaths, having children, and intent to leave work.

Conclusions:

  • This study provides crucial data on moral distress in Italian PICUs.
  • Identified end-of-life care and resuscitation as key distress triggers.
  • Emphasizes the need for multidisciplinary team communication for shared decision-making, especially in critical situations.

Keywords:
decision-makingethical climatemoral distressnursingpediatric intensive care unitwork environment

More Related Videos

The Application of Point-of-Care Ultrasonography (POCUS) in the Management of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) in the Intensive Care Unit08:22

The Application of Point-of-Care Ultrasonography (POCUS) in the Management of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) in the Intensive Care Unit

Published on: December 12, 2025

863
Monitoring Lung Function with Electrical Impedance Tomography in the Intensive Care Unit05:56

Monitoring Lung Function with Electrical Impedance Tomography in the Intensive Care Unit

Published on: September 6, 2024

6.1K

Related Concept Videos

Measurement: Derived Units03:02

Measurement: Derived Units

The International System of Units or SI system, by international agreement, has fixed measurement units for seven fundamental properties: length, mass, time, temperature, electric current, amount of substance, and luminosity. These are called the SI base units.
54.2K
Measurement: Standard Units03:38

Measurement: Standard Units

Every measurement provides three kinds of information: the size or magnitude of the measurement (a number), a standard of comparison for the measurement (a unit), and an indication of the uncertainty of the measurement. While the number and unit are explicitly represented when a quantity is written, the uncertainty is an aspect of the errors in the measurement results.
78.1K
Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development01:19

Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development

Kohlberg's theory of moral development uses the Heinz dilemma — a thought experiment in which a man, Heinz, must decide whether to steal an unaffordable drug to save his dying wife — to illustrate the evolution of moral reasoning. This framework, divided into three levels with two stages, highlights how individuals' understanding of right and wrong becomes increasingly complex.
Pre-Conventional Level
At the pre-conventional level, morality is primarily driven by personal...
872
Varicose Veins II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care01:26

Varicose Veins II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care

Varicose veins, or varicosities, develop when the valves in the veins, which control blood flow, weaken or damage. It causes blood to pool and the veins to enlarge. Understanding the clinical manifestations, diagnostic approaches, and management options for varicose veins is crucial for effective treatment and relief.Clinical manifestationsClinical manifestations of varicose veins include a heavy, achy feeling or pain after prolonged standing or sitting. This discomfort can often be relieved by...
192
Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care01:29

Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care

Diagnosing Pulmonary EmbolismDiagnosing pulmonary embolism (PE) involves clinical assessment and advanced imaging tests. The preferred diagnostic tool is the spiral (helical) CT scan or CT angiography (CTA), which uses intravenous contrast media to visualize the pulmonary vasculature and identify emboli.A ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scan is an alternative for patients unable to receive contrast media. This scan includes both perfusion and ventilation scanning. Perfusion scanning involves...
340
Sound Intensity00:58

Sound Intensity

The loudness of a sound source is related to how energetically the source is vibrating, consequently making the molecules of the propagation medium vibrate. To measure the loudness of a source, the physical quantity of interest is the intensity. This is defined as the energy emitted per unit of time per unit of area perpendicular to the sound wave's propagation direction. Since the total energy is greater if the source vibrates for a longer duration and over a larger area, dividing the...
4.7K