Relationship between Nurses’ Moral Distress and Psychological Empowerment in Hospitals Affiliated to Shahroud University of Medical Sciences in 2018

Abstract

Background: Nurses experience moral distress due to barriers in the workplace in the process of moral decision-making. It seems that the psychological ability of nurses in clinical environments can reduce their moral distress. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship of moral distress and psychological ability of nurses working in hospitals affiliated to Shahroud University of Medical Sciences in 2018. Methods: In this descriptive-correlational study, all eligible nurses were included in the study through the convenience sampling method. Two questionnaires were used to collect the data, including Corleychr('39')s Moral Distress Scale and Spritzer’s Psychological Empowerment. Finally, data analysis was performed using descriptive and analytical statistics. SPSS software was used to analyze the data by descriptive and inferential statistics tests such as independent t-test, Pearson’s correlation, and unilateral analysis. (P-vlue <0.05). Results: The average frequency and intensity of the moral distress in nurses were classified based on the upper floor as 2.41 ± 1.02 and 2.63 ± 0.86, and the psychological capacity of the nurses was placed in the middle class which was 31.88 ± 4.92. Based on the findings, the frequency of moral distresshad an inverse relationship with the dimensions of independence and effectiveness and the total score of psychological ability (P<0.05). Eventually, there was a significant direct association between the average score of moral distress tension and the merit dimension of nurses’ psychological ability (P<0.05). Conclusion: In general, a statistically significant relationship was found between moral distress and psychological ability in line with the interventions aimed at combating moral distress.

Keywords

• moral distress
• psychological empowerment
• nurses