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Travel nurses' experience with ethical challenges in practice: A qualitative descriptive study
1UMass Chan Medical School, Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing, Worcester, MA, USA.
Nursing Ethics
|November 13, 2025
Summary
Travel nurses face unique ethical challenges and moral distress, distinct from staff nurses. They cope through reflection, support networks, and action planning, informing better support strategies in nursing practice.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Ethics
- Healthcare Workforce Studies
- Qualitative Research
Background:
- High nursing turnover rates create significant financial and staffing challenges in healthcare.
- Travel nursing is an increasing trend, often linked to ethical challenges and moral distress.
- Limited research exists on travel nurses' experiences with ethical challenges and moral distress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore travel nurses' experiences with ethical challenges.
- To understand how travel nurses respond to and mitigate moral distress.
- To identify personal and organizational support resources for travel nurses.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative descriptive study utilizing individual interviews.
- Purposive sampling recruited 15 travel nurses in the USA.
- Data analyzed using inductive and deductive content analysis.
Main Results:
- Three core themes emerged regarding travel nurses' ethical challenges.
- Coping strategies include reflective thinking, building support networks, and planning actions.
- Travel nurses' ethical experiences and coping mechanisms show unique characteristics.
Conclusions:
- Findings offer insights into travel nurse practice models and support strategies.
- Recommendations for nursing leaders to improve the ethical environment for travel nurses.
- Highlights the need for tailored support for all nurses facing ethical dilemmas.
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