Moral Empowerment in Intensive Care Unit Nurses: A Scoping Review

kashani, Maryam; Ashqli Farahani, Mansoureh; Golestan, Fatemeh

Volume 17 - Supplement of 11th Annual Iranian Congress of Medical Ethics (Posters) IJMEHM 2024, 17 - Supplement of 11th Annual Iranian Congress of Medical Ethics (Posters): 1-4 | Back to browse issues page

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kashani M, Ashqli Farahani M, Golestan F. Moral Empowerment in Intensive Care Unit Nurses: A Scoping Review. IJMEHM 2024; 17 (S1) :1-4
URL: http://ijme.tums.ac.ir/article-1-6887-en.html

Moral Empowerment in Intensive Care Unit Nurses: A Scoping Review

Maryam Kashani¹

, Mansoureh Ashqli Farahani ^*

², Fatemeh Golestan¹

1- Phd student, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
2- Assistant-professor, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: (108 Views)

The intensive care unit (ICU) environment presents numerous ethical challenges, contributing to significant levels of moral distress among ICU nurses. This distress negatively impacts their well-being and job satisfaction. Recognizing this critical issue, researchers have investigated the potential of moral empowerment programs to alleviate moral distress. This scoping review aimed to systematically synthesize existing literature on these programs and evaluate their efficacy in mitigating moral distress among ICU nurses. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL databases was conducted, utilizing keywords such as "moral empowerment," "moral distress," and "intensive care unit nurses." Fifteen articles meeting predefined inclusion criteria, including publication between 2010 and 2022 and a specific focus on moral empowerment programs for ICU nurses, were selected for analysis. The scoping review revealed that moral empowerment programs demonstrated positive outcomes in reducing moral distress among ICU nurses. These programs, encompassing workshops, case-based discussions, reflective exercises, and role-playing simulations, were designed to enhance moral reasoning, ethical decision-making, and moral resilience. Consistent findings indicated a significant decrease in moral distress among nurses who participated in these programs. Participants reported increased confidence in navigating ethical dilemmas, making sound clinical decisions, and effectively advocating for patients' rights. Moreover, moral empowerment programs fostered a sense of moral agency, empowering nurses to address ethical challenges proactively. Moral distress poses a significant challenge for ICU nurses, impacting their well-being and potentially compromising the quality of patient care. Moral empowerment programs offer a promising approach to mitigating this distress and enhancing ethical decision-making capabilities. The successful implementation of these programs requires a supportive work environment that fosters open dialogue and ethical reflection. Nurse leaders and educators play a crucial role in collaborating with ethics committees to develop and implement tailored interventions, including integrating moral empowerment modules into new nurse orientations and ongoing professional development programs. Continuous support through follow-up sessions, mentoring, and debriefing is essential to sustain the long-term benefits of these programs. Ethical consultation services and interprofessional collaboration further contribute to the ethical well-being of ICU nurses. While this review provides valuable insights, further research is warranted to investigate the long-term effects and broader implications of moral empowerment programs in the ICU setting.

Keywords: Moral distress, Moral empowerment, Intensive care unit nurses.

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Type of Study: Ethics Congress | Subject: Congress of Ethics
Received: 2025/03/1 | Accepted: 2024/12/23 | Published: 2024/12/23