Abstract
BackgroundMoral distress is prevalent in the health care environment at different levels. Nurses in all roles and positions are exposed to ethically challenging conditions. Development of supportive climates in organizations may drive nurses towards coping moral distress and other related factors. This study aimed at determining the level of perceived organizational support and moral distress among nurses and investigating the relationship between the two variables.MethodsThis was a correlational-descriptive study. A total of 120 nurses were selected using random quota sampling method. A demographic questionnaire, Survey of Perceived Organizational Support, and Moral Distress Scale were used to collect the data which were analyzed using descriptive and analytical tests in SPSS20.ResultsThe mean perceived organizational support was low (2.63 ± 0.79). The mean moral distress was 2.19 ± 0.58, which shows a high level of moral distress. Moreover, Statistical analysis showed no significant relationship between perceived organizational support and moral distress (r = 0.01, p = 0.86).ConclusionGiven the low level of perceived organizational support and high moral distress among nurses in this study, it is necessary to provide a supportive environment in hospitals and to consider strategies for diminishing moral distress.
Highlights
Moral distress is prevalent in the health care environment at different levels
The highest mean of moral distress pertained to the dimension of errors (2.43 ± 0.65).No relationships were observed between perceived organizational support and moral distress (p = 0.86) or its dimensions (p > 0.05); (Table 3)
The current study reported the intensity of moral distress as high among the nurses, which is consistent with the results obtained by Woods et al conducted on nurses in New Zealand [49]
Summary
Moral distress is prevalent in the health care environment at different levels. This study aimed at determining the level of perceived organizational support and moral distress among nurses and investigating the relationship between the two variables. Moral distress is a common problem among the professionals employed in health care settings [1]. Moral distress has been described as a major problem in the nursing profession [5, 6]. The particular characteristics of nursing and the different work cultures generated in different health care institutions expose nurses to a higher risk of moral distress than other professionals [7]. Moral distress has undesirable outcomes for both nurses and patients, and can have direct and indirect effects on nurses. Physical disorders such as nightmares, headache and anxiety and a dysfunctional personal life have been reported among nurses at risk for moral distress [8]
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