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Learning Objective 1: summarize the consequences of moral distress
Learning Objective 2: explain strategies to limit moral distress
Moral distress is an insidious problem affecting many registered nurses, directly and or indirectly, with potentially harmful consequences. Review of the literature revealed that consequences of moral distress produce a negative effect on the overall well being of nurses, their peers, patient care, the work environment, and the efficiency of healthcare institutions.
A quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest control group design was selected for this study. Bandura’s social cognitive theory and Corley’s theory of nurse moral distress served as the theoretical framework. The 38 item, 7-point Likert scale, Moral Distress Scale was used to measure intensity and frequency, and total moral distress.
Four community hospitals were randomly assigned to the treatment and control group. The treatment and control group completed the Moral Distress Scale as a pretest. The treatment group received the education intervention, and both the treatment and control groups completed the posttest.
Analysis of covariance approach to data analysis was used to compare the treatment and control groups on change scores, using the pretest scores as the covariate. There was a statistically significant difference for the experimental group on intensity, frequency, and total moral distress. Nurses employed in Magnet designated hospitals reported decreased posttest total moral distress scores and frequency, compared to the non-Magnet designated hospitals.
Nursing care should be valued and respected. This study may benefit nurses to identify effective strategies to prevent or minimize the experience of moral distress. The findings generated from this study may support staff nurses to explore strategies to enhance healthy work environments among nurses.
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