Clinical Changes in Patterns of Moral Courage and Moral Distress Among Operating Room Nurses During COVID-19

Healthcare personnel involved in COVID-19 care have been negatively affected by the associated excess stress. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between moral distress and moral courage among operating room nurses due the hidden conditions of the effects of COVID during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis. This descriptive-correlation study was conducted on all operating room nurses working in educational and medical centers in Shiraz, Iran, 2022. The samples (n=141) were selected using a convenience sampling method. The required data were collected by questionnaires of demographic form, the Professional Sekerka Moral Courage and the Moral Distress Scale. The gathered data were analyzed in SPSS software through descriptive and analytical statistics. The mean scores of moral courage and moral distress only nurses who as Circuler Nurse were obtained at 61.67±7.79 was 47.4±18.9, respectively. It was revealed that there was a statistically significant relationship between the dimensions of moral courage and the dimensions of errors and inappropriate competencies and responsibilities of moral distress (P>0.05). The moral courage and moral distress of the nurses showed significant differences in terms of the type of employment, length of working experience, specialized field of surgery, and working ward, age, specialized field of surgery during the COVID-19 crisis. Moral agency and multiple values showed a statistically significant and direct relationship with total moral distress (R=0.20, P=0.01). Concerning the results of study, there can be stated that nurses were inclined to perform moral behaviors and an increase in their sense of responsibility during the COVID-19 crisis would lead to courageous behaviors and ultimately, a reduction in moral distress. Therefore, it is necessary that managers pay serious attention to the employment of training programs and improving the psychological knowledge of involved nurses and sharing nurses’ experiences of moral distress.