Moral Distress: One Unit's Recognition and Mitigation of This Problem
Susan D Bruce1, Deborah Allen2
1Duke Cancer Center.
Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing
|January 22, 2020
Summary
Oncology nurses experience moral distress, similar to intensive care staff. Recognizing and mitigating ethical dilemmas and care futility is crucial for oncology nursing well-being and warrants further research.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Oncology
- Bioethics
Background:
- Moral distress is prevalent in intensive care settings.
- Limited research exists on moral distress within oncology nursing.
- Ethical dilemmas, care goal misalignment, and perceived futility contribute to moral distress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the risk of moral distress in a new medical-surgical oncology unit.
- To describe interventions aimed at mitigating moral distress in this setting.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative description of experiences on a newly formed unit.
- Identification of contributing factors to moral distress.
- Implementation of mitigation strategies.
Main Results:
- Moral distress was recognized as a risk in the oncology unit.
- Proactive steps were taken to address potential moral distress.
- Evidence suggests moral distress is present in oncology nursing.
Conclusions:
- Moral distress is a significant issue in oncology nursing.
- Further investigation into moral distress in oncology is warranted.
- Proactive strategies can help mitigate moral distress in nursing.
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