Nurse Moral Distress and Ethical Work Environment
Abstract
This study examined the relationship between moral distress intensity, moral distress frequency and the ethical work environment, and explored the relationship of demographic characteristics to moral distress intensity and frequency. A group of 106 nurses from two large medical centers reported moderate levels of moral distress intensity, low levels of moral distress frequency, and a moderately positive ethical work environment. Moral distress intensity and ethical work environment were correlated with moral distress frequency. Age was negatively correlated with moral distress intensity, whereas being African American was related to higher levels of moral distress intensity. The ethical work environment predicted moral distress intensity. These results reveal a difference between moral distress intensity and frequency and the importance of the environment to moral distress intensity.
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The sense of powerlessness reported by nurses fits the classic definition of moral distress, where one knows the morally correct course of action but cannot carry it out due to situational and/or other internal and external constraints.
“This sense of powerlessness “fits” the classic definition of moral distress, where one knows the morally correct course of action but cannot carry it out due to situational and/or other internal and external constraints (Corley 2002; Corley et al. 2005).”
From Everyday ethics: ethical issues and stress in nursing practice (2010) · cites this paper as Corley et al. 2005
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References 50 · Cited by 593
- Authors
- Corley, M. C., Minick, P., Elswick, R. K., & Jacobs, M.
- Affiliations
- Virginia Commonwealth University (US)
- Georgia State University (US)
- Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Corley, Mary C
- ORCID
- Elswick, R K
- Venue
- Nursing Ethics
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2005-07
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 381-390
- ISSN
- 0969-7330 (ISSN-L)
- 1477-0989
- OpenAlex
- W2145345447
- Cited by
- 593
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 42 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 32 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 35 · 2017: 30 · 2016: 40 · 2015: 41 · 2014: 48 · 2013: 39 · 2012: 45
- FWCI
- 25.86
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Nursing Ethics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DigitalGeorgetown (Georgetown University Library) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Ethics in medical practice
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Information Systems and Management › Ethics in Business and Education
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Research and Theory › Nursing education and management
- Keywords
- moral distress, workplace ethics, nurses, demographic factors, age, race, African American nurses, medical centers
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Age Factors, Attitude of Health Personnel, Burnout, Professional, Conflict, Psychological, Ethics, Nursing, Factor Analysis, Statistical, Health Facility Environment, Humans, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Deception, Mid-Atlantic Region, Morals, Nursing Staff, Hospital, Patient Advocacy, Personnel Turnover, Power, Psychological, Surveys and Questionnaires, Risk Factors, Social Responsibility, Organizational Culture, Nursing Methodology Research, Professional Autonomy, Workplace, Nurse's Role
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