Moral distress in ICU nurses

Excerpt

The intensive care unit (ICU) is a stressful environment due to high patient mortality and morbidity, daily confrontations with ethical dilemmas, and a tension-charged atmosphere [1]. The ICU is an especially complex and difficult work environment for critical care nurses. Critical care nurses are repeatedly exposed to work-related stresses, including involvement in end-of-life discussions, prolongation of life with artificial support device, and the potential for delivering inappropriate care [2]. When confronted with these stressful situations, nurses may feel powerless, unable to provide care according to their own belief system, and therefore prone to develop moral distress. Moral distress is an increasingly recognized problem that has critical implications on the ability to deliver healthcare properly. In this commentary, we discuss the risk factors for moral distress, its consequences, and potential preventative and therapeutic interventions. …