Presentation
The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Moral Distress in NICU Nurses
Western Institute of Nursing's 55th Annual Communicating Nursing Research Conference
(2022)
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to measure the relationship between emotional intelligence and moral distress in NICU nurses.
Background and Significance: Moral distress in nursing is defined as the various institutional and cultural constraints that may prevent nurses from choosing the morally correct option in a given situation. Moral distress is a common issue for healthcare providers, especially neonatal intensive care unit nurses during end-of-life patient care. This distress is most often linked to futile care, which are invasive patient interventions employed with the knowledge that recovery is not possible. Moral distress can lead to increased nurse stress, anxiety, burnout, and attrition from the profession. Another outcome of moral distress is avoidance behaviors which negatively affect patient outcomes. Previous research reports that higher emotional intelligence scores may temper the degree of moral distress, and thus some of the negative outcomes, experienced by nurses (Adams & Iseler, 2014; Lewis, 2019; Zhu et al., 2015). Emotional intelligence is comprised of self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness and social skills. Emotional intelligence can be strengthened through interventions, if positively associated with moral distress and thus may be an avenue to improve patient care, decrease nurse stress, burnout, and attrition from the profession.
Methods: This study used a quantitative, descriptive design. An invitation to participate in this study was posted in online National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) membership forums. In addition to demographic questions, The Moral Distress Scale-Revised (Adult Nurse Questionnaire) and the Schutte Self-Report Inventory (SSRI) on Emotional Intelligence were used to collect data on the two main outcomes of interest.
Results: The research sample was composed of 83 level III or IV NICU nurses and nurse practitioners. Aggregate total scores for participants’ perceptions of their own EI and MD were considered moderate to moderately high. While there was no statistically significant relationship between aggregate SSRI and MDS-R scores (p > 0.05), there were significant negative correlations that emerged. With higher SSRI scores on the perception of emotion item “I am aware of the non-verbal messages I send to others”, MDS-R scores decreased for “carry out the physician’s orders for what [they] consider to be unnecessary tests and treatments” (r(64) = -.268, p < .05), as well as “work with nurses or other healthcare providers who are not as competent as the patient care requires” (r(64) = -2.51, p < .05). Additionally, there was a significant indirect relationship between “I easily recognize my emotions as I experience them” from the SSRI and “carry out the physician’s orders for what [the] consider to be unnecessary tests and treatments” (r(64) = -2.95, p < .05).
Implications for Practice & Research: Further research with larger sample sizes is recommended to evaluate the full relationship between EI and MD in NICU nurses. As development of EI is considered beneficial in many areas of practice, it is recommended that nurse managers implement interventions to foster EI in their staff.
Disciplines
Publication Date
April, 2022
Location
Portland, OR
Citation Information
Stephanie L. Lewis and Amy L. Spurlock. "The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Moral Distress in NICU Nurses" Western Institute of Nursing's 55th Annual Communicating Nursing Research Conference (2022) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/amy-spurlock/15/