An educational program of reducing moral distress (PRMD) in nurses; designing and evaluating

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Ethics
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Moral distress is a prevalent issue impacting nurses, patients, and healthcare systems.
• Effective strategies are needed to mitigate the negative consequences of moral distress.
• This study addresses the need for an evidence-based educational intervention for nurses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate an educational program aimed at reducing moral distress among nurses.
• To identify the primary causes of moral distress in the nursing profession.
• To assess the effectiveness of the educational intervention through mixed methods.

Main Methods:

• A multiphase mixed-method study conducted in Shiraz, Iran, involving 40 nurses.
• Program design followed Ewles and Sminett's model, incorporating qualitative data, expert input, and literature review.
• Quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-intervention measurements using moral distress questionnaires and content analysis.

Main Results:

• Identified causes of moral distress include professional competency gaps, organizational culture, communication issues, and ethical dilemmas.
• A significant reduction in moral distress scores was observed post-intervention (p < 0.05).
• Nurses reported enhanced moral knowledge, improved ethical climate, and increased moral empowerment.

Conclusions:

• Educational programs incorporating diverse methods and managerial involvement are effective in reducing nurse moral distress.
• The intervention successfully improved nurses' ethical awareness and empowerment.
• Findings support the integration of such programs into nursing education and practice.