J Korean Acad Soc Nurs Educ.  2020 May;26(2):176-184. 10.5977/jkasne.2020.26.2.176.

Emergency nurses’ experience of coping with moral distress

• Lee NK
• Hwang JI

• KMID: 2503047
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5977/jkasne.2020.26.2.176

Abstract

Purpose
We explored emergency nurses’ experiences of coping with moral distress.
Methods
A qualitative research design was used. We conducted in-depth interviews with 11 nurses working at a regional emergency medical center in South Korea. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis.
Results
The main theme of nurses’ coping with moral distress was “a passive emotion-based response.” We also extracted three categories of coping strategies: “uncritical adaptation to anguished situation,” “self-justification for not acting,” and “flight from ethical decision making.”
Conclusion
Nurses coped with moral distress in a passive and emotional way, possibly because of perceived incompetence and compliance to an organizational hierarchy. The findings imply that effective approaches to addressing moral distress in emergency nurses are needed at the individual and organizational levels.

Keyword

Psychological adaptation; Emergency nursing; Moral status; Qualitative research; 심리적 적응; 응급 간호; 도덕성 상태; 질적 연구