nursingmanagement.org

Volume 9 Issue 4

Moral Distress and Its Determinants among Nursing Students in an Italian University: A Cross-Sectional Study

Giampiera Bulfone,Valentina Bressan,Irene Zerilli,Antonio Vinci,Rocco Mazzotta,Fabio Ingravalle andMassimo Maurici

1Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Sassari (UNISS), Viale San Pietro 43/B, 07100 Sassari, Italy
2Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
3School of Health, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali 760000, Colombia
4Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaen, Spain
5Instituto de Investigation Biosanitaria de Granada (Ibs.granada), University of Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain
6Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
7Department of Nursing, Universidad Popular del Cesar, Valledupar 200002, Colombia
 
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Abstract

Patients with substance use disorders may view healthcare professionals as capable of supporting them through their suffering and experience. Although numerous studies have focused on the roles, approaches, and attitudes of healthcare professionals, there is a lack of information on the nursing perspective. This study aims to explore the experiences and nursing approaches towards patients with psychoactive substance dependence admitted to an Italian acute hospital ward. A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted. Data were collected using semi-structured face-to-face interviews. The interviews were transcribed, read thoroughly, and analysed. Fifteen nurses were interviewed. Six main themes were extracted: (1) origin context, (2) participants’ personal thoughts, (3) type of approach provided, (4) school education received on the topic, (5) effectiveness of rehabilitative therapy, and (6) methods that can improve nursing care. The findings suggest that most respondents experience stigma and discrimination when providing care to these patients. In response to the results obtained, models have been suggested, such as Jean Watson’s Human Caring Theory, which shows how practising a holistic approach based on empathy and active listening can improve the relationship between nurses and patients. Furthermore, to eliminate stereotypes, it would be appropriate to act on the university education of nurses. This study was not registered.
Keywords: 
human caring science; nursing; qualitative research; social discrimination; stigma; substance use disorder