Research indicates a correlation between moral distress and occupational strain, impacting nurse retention. Moral distress entails the physical or mental anguish experienced when perceived moral obligations are hindered by internal or external limitations. Nurses often face barriers, such as educational or structural constraints, lack of resources, or limited authority, impeding their ability to align actions with ethical principles. Feelings of stress, burnout, emotional fatigue, and dissatisfaction with work conditions can stem from moral distress.
Addressing moral distress within organizations could lead to benefits such as increased nurse satisfaction, decreased staff turnover, and, ultimately, improved patient care quality. Therefore, it’s crucial for healthcare providers to acknowledge and mitigate moral distress to nurture clinicians’ psychological well-being and moral resilience.
Our speakers from the US, South Africa, the UK, and Sweden explore strategies that are applicable to all resource-setting health systems.
