Nurses suffer from moral distress. Moral distress is a prominent factor of burnout, which may ultimately lead to an increase nurse turnover, low job satisfaction, and a decrease in quality of patient care. Although moral distress in nurses has been studied since 1984, there is a lack of preventative interventions to decrease the consequences as a result of these issues. Whether integrated into the nursing school curriculum or through workshops, there is a need to educate nursing students of the phenomenon of moral distress and how it leads to burnout to increase their awareness and understanding of these issues, and to provide students the tools necessary to build resilience.
Methods:
A small scale study was conducted by nursing students through a one-day conference addressing moral distress, burnout, and coping strategies. Partnerships were fostered with local professional nursing organizations for sponsorships, such as the San Diego Association of California Nurse Leaders and Sigma Theta Tau Gamma Gamma chapter. The students met with experts in the field, such as nurse researchers, social workers, and bioethics directors, to discuss the content of the conference. The conference included an opening keynote speaker, four breakout sessions, a panel of experts, and a closing reflection with a mindfulness practice. The study was then evaluated through a survey given to the 75 nurses and students that attended the conference.
Results:
Nurses and nursing students were invited to the conference, but the event remained open to the public. Out of the 75 attendees, there were 14 nurses, 54 nursing students, and 7 non-nursing graduate students. Out of the 14 nurses, 100% agreed that the objectives were met, and 100% agreed that the conference was relevant to their career. From a 0 to 4 numeric scale, four being excellent, 100% agreed that all speakers had excellent content and presentations. They also agreed that moral distress and burnout must be included in the nursing curriculum, suggested that the event be repeated annually, and wished that they were able to receive this education when they were in nursing school. Out of the 61 non-nursing and nursing students, 100% agreed that the objectives were met, and 98.3% agreed that the conference was relevant to their career. 98.3% agreed that the speakers had excellent content and presentations. They also agreed that the content of the conference must be implemented into the nursing curriculum, suggested that the education of these materials be in congruence with the first clinical rotation, and voiced the significance of the topic in both personal and professional lives.
Conclusion: Collectively, the feedback from the conference highlighted the significance of implementing an intervention to decrease moral distress within the nursing education. It further solidified the need for an increase in education regarding moral distress, burnout, and tools provided to prevent and cope from these issues. As a result of the conference, San Diego State University’s School of Nursing recognized the need of educating their students and hopes to find ways to best implement moral distress and burnout into the curriculum.