Moral distress experienced by nurses: A quantitative literature review. (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oh, Younjae; Gastmans, Chris
• Other Names: Peter Elizabeth guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Nursing ethics. Volume 22:Number 1(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 15
• Page End: 31
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: Literature review -- moral distress -- moral distress frequency -- moral distress intensity -- nurses; Nursing ethics -- Periodicals; 174.2907305
• DOI: 10.1177/0969733013502803
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0969-7330

Abstract

Nurses are frequently confronted with ethical dilemmas in their nursing practice. As a consequence, nurses report experiencing moral distress. The aim of this review was to synthesize the available quantitative evidence in the literature on moral distress experienced by nurses. We appraised 19 articles published between January 1984 and December 2011. This review revealed that many nurses experience moral distress associated with difficult care situations and feel burnout, which can have an impact on their professional position. Further research is required to examine worksite strategies to support nurses in these situations and to develop coping strategies for dealing with moral distress.