A reflective practice intervention to act on the moral distress of nurses providing end-of-life care on acute care units

Background: Nurses providing end-of-life care in acute care units often suffer from moral distress. Reflective practice (RP) may enable these nurses to realise desirable practice and then decrease their moral distress. Aims: This study aims to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of an RP intervention on moral distress. Methods: This pilot study has a one group pre-test/post-test design. Nurses working in acute care units were recruited. An RP intervention was tested that included three 45-75-minute group sessions using the Johns' model for structured reflection (2006). Results: Most nurse participants (16/19) completed the intervention and noticed changes in their practice (13/16). The results did not show a significant difference (3.97 points, p=0.62) in the mean of the pre- and post-intervention moral distress. Conclusion: The RP intervention seemed feasible and acceptable to participants. Other studies are needed to demonstrate the effects of RP on the moral distress of nurses.