1Lecturer, NINE, PGIMER, Chandigarh, (Msc. Neurosciences nursing)
2Principal, Sarasvati Nursing Institue, Dianpura, Morinda
3Principal, NINE, PGIMER, Chandigarh
*Address for correspondence Mrs. Monaliza Lecturer, National Institute of Nursing Education, PGIMER, Chandigarh. Email: monaliza.mittal@gmail.com. M. No.: 9914477603
Online published on 21 March, 2018.
Nurses face repeated situations that result in the experience of ethical distress, although they have taken on expanded roles and a more participative nature in their practice, factors beyond the nurse's control may hinder their ability to act as moral agents for patients and families. When nurses face impediments to what they perceive as moral practice, they may experience the inner turmoil and frustration of ethical distress. Ethical distress is believed to be a major problem of nurses, particularly of those who work in critical or emergency care settings. It has also been found to be associated with dissatisfaction of job among nurses
To assess intensity level and frequency of ethical distress in critical care nurses. To identify factors, that contributes to the highest intensity and frequency levels of ethical distress among them, and to evaluate associations among ethical distress and certain demographic characteristics of nurses.
A descriptive, questionnaire study was used. A total of 100 nurses working in various intensive care units completed a 21-item revised moral distress scale.
Nurses reported a mild to moderate level of ethical distress. Highest levels of ethical distress were found associated with Item" Continue to participate in care for a hopelessly ill person who is being sustained on a ventilator, when no one will make a decision to withdraw support"
Critical care nurses commonly face situations that are found to be associated with high levels of ethical distress. Strategies to mitigate ethical distress should be developed and tested.
Biomedical ethics, ethical dilemmas, ethical distress, moral distress
