Moral distress in emergency nurses: a qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis protocol.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Moral distress is a significant challenge in contemporary nursing practice, posing a substantial threat to nurses' well-being and patient safety. Nurses in the emergency department are considered a high-risk group for experiencing this distress due to their unique working environment. Although numerous qualitative studies have explored this issue, a systematic synthesis of this fragmented evidence is notably absent. This qualitative meta-synthesis aims to integrate existing evidence to construct a comprehensive conceptual framework of the experiences, processes and coping mechanisms related to moral distress among emergency nurses.

Methods and analysis

This study will be a qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis, adhering to the Preferred Reporting Item

SUBMITTER: Zhang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12666034 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature