Experiences Of Moral Distress In Nurses’ Daily Work

Background: Moral distress in the work of nurses has been an emerging ethical problem in the different levels of complexity in the Brazilian scenario. Objective: raise the situations perceived by nurses working in different health services across the country, as generators of moral distress. Methods: This is a descriptive study of quantitative approach, of survey type. The study was developed with 771 nurses that working in health services of different levels of complexity in the Brazilian scenario. The data were collected in open instrument, they were asked to identify work situations triggering potential mental distress/suffering. Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS statistical software and later organized in tables at the 2010 version of Excel®. Findings: In the survey, were cited 2304 situations of Moral Distress. The situations involve Working Conditions; Professional Relations; Professional Competence; Quality of Care; Access; Labor Organization and Conflict. Conclusions: it becomes important to reflect on the role of the nurse and the development of an ethical and autonomous practice in their daily tasks, given that moral distress deprived nurses from their roles.