Moral Distress and Burnout in NICU Nurses

The objectives of this study were to factor analyze the Moral Distress Scale-Revised (MDS-R) in NICU nurses and to evaluate the relationships among dimensions of the MDS-R and the demoralization, exhaustion, and loss of motive dimensions of the Burnout Measure (BM). A total of 142 NICU nurses completed modified pen-and-paper versions of the MDS-R and BM. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses showed that the MDS-R-14 was a relatively good fit for the data. The compromised care dimension predicted BM demoralization (beta = 0.24) and exhaustion (beta= 0.22), the futile care dimension predicted BM exhaustion (beta = 0.18), and the untruthful care dimension predicted BM demoralization (beta = .25). Strategies to mitigate moral distress and resulting burnout in NICU nurses should address futile care, compromised care, and untruthful care.