Influencing factors of moral distress among nurses: Differences by gender, years of experience, job title, CNS/CN qualifications, night shift status, and department

Abstract

This study clarified the factors influencing the moral distress experienced by nurses, by analyzing survey data of nurses at advanced treatment hospitals across Japan to examine the relationship between moral distress and factors such as gender, years of experience, job title, Certified Nurse Specialist (CNS)/ Certified Nurse (CN) qualifications, night shift status, and department. Moral distress was measured using the Japanese version of the MMD-HP scale. Responses from 882 nurses were analyzed, with a mean moral distress score of 73.0(ranging from 0 to 363), a median of 58.0, and a standard deviation of 57.8. Factors influencing nurses’ moral distress included job title and the presence of CNS/CN qualifications. Additionally, the highest mean scores for moral distress were observed in the emergency department, community liaison department, palliative care unit, psychiatric unit, and management/education unit. These results suggest that, to address moral distress among nurses, both organizational support for common moral distress and tailored interventions based on individual characteristics are necessary.