Institution-Wide Moral Distress Among Nurses
Adam T Booth1, Bridget F Dobson, Becky J Christian
1Author Affiliations: Nurse Researcher (Dr Booth), Office of Professional Practice Education, Nursing Research, and Nursing Excellence, University of Louisville Health; and Staff Nurse (Dobson), Surgical Intensive Care Unit, University of Louisville Hospital, Kentucky; Professor and PhD Program Director (Dr Christian), School of Nursing, University of Kansas; and Assistant Professor (Dr Clark) and Assistant Professor and Biostatistician (Dr Sha), School of Nursing, University of Louisville, Kentucky.
The Journal of Nursing Administration
|October 11, 2024
Summary
Nurses experience moral distress due to staffing, resources, and administrative support issues. This distress is linked to nurses considering leaving their jobs and is higher in younger nurses.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Healthcare Ethics
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Moral distress arises when healthcare professionals cannot act according to their ethical beliefs due to constraints.
- Understanding the prevalence and contributing factors of moral distress is crucial for nursing well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and impact of moral distress among nurses.
- To identify key factors contributing to moral distress in a nursing population.
Main Methods:
- A quantitative, exploratory, cross-sectional study design was employed.
- The Measure of Moral Distress for Healthcare Professionals (MMD-HP) was utilized.
- Data were collected from nurses at a level 1 trauma center.
Main Results:
- Ninety-seven nurses completed the MMD-HP, with inadequate staffing, resources, and administrative support identified as primary contributors to moral distress.
- A significant correlation was found between moral distress and nurses' intent to leave their positions (explaining 28.5% of variance).
- Nurses aged 40-49 reported higher levels of moral distress compared to those aged 50 and older.
Conclusions:
- Deficiencies in staffing, resources, and administrative support are significant drivers of moral distress in nursing.
- Interventions focusing on safe staffing, adequate resources, and enhanced administrative support are recommended to mitigate moral distress.
- Further research into effective interventions for moral distress in nursing is warranted.
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