Moral distress in psychiatric nurses in Covid-19 crisis
Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has put heavy pressure on nurses. Psychiatric nurses are also exposed to moral distress due to the special conditions of psychiatric patients and patient’s lack of cooperation in observing health protocols. This study has been conducted to explore and descri...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01048-y |
| _version_ | 1797863186967298048 |
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| author | Nahid Tavakol Zahra Molazem Mahnaz Rakhshan Omid Asemani Shahpar Bagheri |
| author_facet | Nahid Tavakol Zahra Molazem Mahnaz Rakhshan Omid Asemani Shahpar Bagheri |
| author_sort | Nahid Tavakol |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has put heavy pressure on nurses. Psychiatric nurses are also exposed to moral distress due to the special conditions of psychiatric patients and patient’s lack of cooperation in observing health protocols. This study has been conducted to explore and describe factors that caused moral distress in Iranian psychiatric nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method This qualitative study with a conventional content analysis approach involved 12 nurses at the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran. This study was conducted in the winter of 2021. Data collection was performed by semi-structured interviews, data analysis was performed based on the five steps of Graneheim and Lundman. Results By continuous comparison and integration of data, 17 subcategories, 8 subcategories, and 3 categories were extracted from 252 initial codes. The causes of moral distress in psychiatric nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic were identified as emotional responses (Fear and Doubt), relational factors (Nurses’ Relationship with Each Other, Nurse-physician Relationship, and Relationship whit Patients), and Institutional factors (Lack of Attention to Health Instructions, Failure to complete the treatment process for patients and Institutional Policies). Conclusion New dimensions of the causes of moral distress associated with the COVID- 19 pandemic are discovered in this study. Managers and planners should equip psychiatric hospitals with isolation facilities and Personal Protection Equipment for patients and nurses. Strengthening the ethical climate by improving communication skills and individual nursing empowerment to prevent moral distress is recommended. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:31:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3301db46af634d9c8abb066819d14a91 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:31:31Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-3301db46af634d9c8abb066819d14a912023-03-22T12:42:16ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832023-02-011111910.1186/s40359-023-01048-yMoral distress in psychiatric nurses in Covid-19 crisisNahid Tavakol0Zahra Molazem1Mahnaz Rakhshan2Omid Asemani3Shahpar Bagheri4Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Community Based Psychiatric Care Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical ScienceDepartment of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical SciencesCommunity Based Psychiatric Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Medical Ethics and Philosophy of Health, Faculty of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Community Based Psychiatric Care Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has put heavy pressure on nurses. Psychiatric nurses are also exposed to moral distress due to the special conditions of psychiatric patients and patient’s lack of cooperation in observing health protocols. This study has been conducted to explore and describe factors that caused moral distress in Iranian psychiatric nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method This qualitative study with a conventional content analysis approach involved 12 nurses at the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran. This study was conducted in the winter of 2021. Data collection was performed by semi-structured interviews, data analysis was performed based on the five steps of Graneheim and Lundman. Results By continuous comparison and integration of data, 17 subcategories, 8 subcategories, and 3 categories were extracted from 252 initial codes. The causes of moral distress in psychiatric nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic were identified as emotional responses (Fear and Doubt), relational factors (Nurses’ Relationship with Each Other, Nurse-physician Relationship, and Relationship whit Patients), and Institutional factors (Lack of Attention to Health Instructions, Failure to complete the treatment process for patients and Institutional Policies). Conclusion New dimensions of the causes of moral distress associated with the COVID- 19 pandemic are discovered in this study. Managers and planners should equip psychiatric hospitals with isolation facilities and Personal Protection Equipment for patients and nurses. Strengthening the ethical climate by improving communication skills and individual nursing empowerment to prevent moral distress is recommended.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01048-yPsychiatricNurseMoralCOVID-19Iran |
| spellingShingle | Nahid Tavakol Zahra Molazem Mahnaz Rakhshan Omid Asemani Shahpar Bagheri Moral distress in psychiatric nurses in Covid-19 crisis BMC Psychology Psychiatric Nurse Moral COVID-19 Iran |
| title | Moral distress in psychiatric nurses in Covid-19 crisis |
| title_full | Moral distress in psychiatric nurses in Covid-19 crisis |
| title_fullStr | Moral distress in psychiatric nurses in Covid-19 crisis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Moral distress in psychiatric nurses in Covid-19 crisis |
| title_short | Moral distress in psychiatric nurses in Covid-19 crisis |
| title_sort | moral distress in psychiatric nurses in covid 19 crisis |
| topic | Psychiatric Nurse Moral COVID-19 Iran |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01048-y |
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