Moral Distress: The Experiences of ICU Nurses in an Academic Health Center

Nurses in the Intensive Care Unit frequently encounter patient care dilemmas leading to the experience of moral distress. A phenomenological approach was used to explore nurses' moral distress experiences and responses across a convenience sample of six nurses in a Medical Intensive Care Unit. Data were collected from in-depth semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using content analysis and thematic analysis. The findings revealed several themes, including: advocacy for patients as a means of coping with moral distress; communication issues in the distress experience; and nurses' desire for more support as they experienced or responded to distress. Additionally, the findings suggest that nurses appreciated an existing support system of managers and coworkers, but wanted additional support from individuals and the organization. Further research is needed on interventions that may provide the desired support.