Psychological distress of nurse managers in acute care: A scoping review

The psychological distress experienced by nurse managers (NMs) following emotionally challenging clinical events has been studied less than that of direct care nurses.

The purpose of this scoping review of the literature was to understand evidence related to the psychological distress experienced by NMs, contributors to these distress responses, and the impact of psychological distress on NMs personally and professionally.

A scoping review of the literature was completed following the protocol and checklist for scoping reviews. Twenty-two studies were included in the final sample.

Psychological distress responses were found to include second victim phenomenon, burnout, moral distress, secondary traumatic stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and work-related stress. Contributors to psychological distress among NMs included inadequate support, value incongruence, resource scarcity, and workplace violence. Physical and emotional well-being, along with intent to leave, were noted as impacts of psychological distress in NMs.

Nurse managers experience psychological distress and need support in addressing work environment and organizational challenges. In addition to focus on direct care nurses, further study of the experiences of nurse managers related to psychological distress and how best to support them is needed.