Moral Distress among Nurses in Cardiac Emergency Department

Saad Mohamed Ali, Noura; Ahmed Elsenousy, Tahany; Mohamed Safwat, Amany; Mohamed Mohamed Abobakr(, Eman

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2025.444238

Moral Distress among Nurses in Cardiac Emergency Department

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Nursing Specialist at Qantra Sharq Hospital Ismailia

² Professor of Critical Care and Emergency Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Ain Shams University

³ Lecturer of Critical Care and Emergency Nursing Faculty of Nursing, Ain Shams University

10.21608/ejhc.2025.444238

Abstract

Background: Moral Distress (MD) is one of the biggest challenges facing nurses and affecting them in all areas of healthcare; meanwhile, the moral distress experienced is more considerable in understaffed hospitals or emergency situations in which the personnel are less trained. Aim of the study: To assess moral distress among nurses in cardiac emergency department. Research design: Descriptive exploratory design was utilized in this study setting: The study was conducted in cardiac emergency department at Imbaba National heart institute. Subject: The study included a convenience sample of all available nurses (40) working in the previous setting Data collection tools: Data were collected through two tools, Tool I: nurses structure Self-Administered interview Questionnaire: include two part: Part I: Demographic characteristics of the studied nurses. Part II: Moral distress scale. Tool II: Factors affecting moral distress among nurses in cardiac emergency department. Results: the results of this study showed that, 52.5% of studied nurses had high moral distress. Regarding the internal factors and external factors of studied nurses' reveals that 72.5% & 60.0% aren’t affecting moral distress respectively. While, 85.0% of studied nurses reveals that clinical situation factors affect their moral distress. Conclusion: The study showed more than half of the studied nurses have a high level of moral distress. And also, more than half of total studied nurses not affected by factors affecting moral distress. There was notable statistically significant positive correlation between total factors and their total moral distress level. Recommendations: The importance of supporting nurses to provide training courses and workshops in the field of ethics, teaching stress management skills, and the role of nurses working in stressed departments.

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