Missed nursing care and its causes and effects on moral distress in neonatal intensive care nurses

Resumo

Background Deficiencies emerge in the care provided by nurses because of the complex treatment plans, shortage of labour resources and communication problems in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Knowing how to provide quality patient care but being unable to maintain it because of individual or institutional issues can lead to moral distress among nurses. Aim This study aimed to examine missed nursing care in NICUs and its relationship with the moral distress experienced by nurses. Study Design This was a cross‐sectional study. This study included a sample of 153 NICU nurses. The data were collected online between January and May 2024 using a descriptive information form, the Missed Care Survey‐Paediatric Form, and the Moral Distress Scale‐Revised for Paediatric Nurses. Results The mean age of the participants was 31.22 years, and on average, they cared for 3.42 ± 0.96 patients per day. The medical condition of the child under care ( t = 2.954, p < .001), duration of working in the NICU ( F = 15.901, p < .001), inadequate number of nurses ( F = 3.626, p = .029) and job satisfaction ( F = 3.359, p = .037) were listed as variables affecting the reasons for missed nursing care. Communication ( β = .275, p = .018) and labour resources ( β = .216, p = .021), subdimensions of the Missed Care survey used in the study, were predictive factors that positively affected moral distress. Conclusions The factors associated with missed care should be explored as strategies to reduce mo

Tipo

Artigo

Área

Enfermagem

Ano

2025

Idioma

Inglês

Licença

CC BY

DOI

10.1111/nicc.13284

Como citar (ABNT)

BAKIRLIOĞLU, Burcu; ÇETINKAYA, Bengü; TEKI, Rabia Nur. Missed nursing care and its causes and effects on moral distress in neonatal intensive care nurses. Nursing in Critical Care, v. 30, n. 2, 2025. DOI: 10.1111/nicc.13284.