The inner struggle of nurses, exploring moral distress among hospital nurses: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: As frontline caregivers, nurses often find themselves at the crossroads of complex ethical decisions that can significantly impact patient outcomes and their own well-being. Identifying the areas of experienced moral dilemmas in the workplace and gaining insight into the prevalence of moral distress can lead to a healthier workplace environment.

Objective: This study aims to examine the frequency, intensity and level of moral distress among nurses who work in a hospital, and to identify the variables associated with the level of moral distress.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: One university hospital and six general hospitals.

Participants: 654 of the 1095 nurses working on inpatient units filled out the questionnaire (response rate 60 %).

Methods: The intensity and frequency of moral distress was assessed using the Moral Distress Scale-Revised (MDS-R). We also asked two additional questions about considering leaving their job, and if they could describe a distressing case and how moral distress was discussed. Multivariable regression analysis was conducted to identify the variables associated with the level of moral distress.

Results: The overall mean MDS-R score of the 654 included nurses was low at 36.4 (SD 26). Nurses reported to have frequent dilemmas regarding organizational aspects and aspects of end-of-life care. The multivariable analyses showed that higher levels of moral distress were experienced by registered nurses, nurses working on a medical ward, and nurses who had ever left or considered leaving their job, or considering leaving their job at the moment.

Conclusions: Although nurses in our study experiences low levels of moral distress, they do experience moral dilemmas related to organizational topics and end of life care. We all need to pay attention to these dilemmas and how to discuss them in order to achieve a resilient nursing profession at a time of major nursing shortages.

Tweetable abstract: Caring for increasingly complex patients in a dynamic healthcare system is likely to continue to produce morally challenging scenarios.

Keywords: Ethics; Moral distress; Nursing; Palliative care; Professional issues; Psychosocial stress.