CNOs combat moral distress

Moral distress, or the “disequilibrium resulting from the recognition of and inability to react ethically to a situation,” has long been associated with some bedside nurses’ experiences during fraught care situations. But the phenomenon is not unique to the nursing frontlines, according to a new qualitative study in the Journal of Nursing Administration that measures moral distress levels among chief nursing officers (CNO).

Through oral interviews with 20 participants, the study’s authors explored the shape and implications of moral distress for CNOs. Issues that triggered the familiar tension for these nursing leaders included staff compensation, financial constraints, hiring limits, and demands to increase productivity. 

“This study identified that moral distress is a repetitive experience for CNOs in acute care settings,” the authors state in the report’s conclusion. “Results require additional research and professional discussion regarding the prevalence of this distress. Failure to do so may support the frailty of CNO leadership and be an injustice to the profession.”

Source: HealthLeaders Media, Journal of Nursing Administration