Authors

  1. Cavinder, Christina DNP, RN, CPNP-PC

Abstract

Moral distress has been identified in multiple clinical settings especially in critical care areas. The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) has frequent situations in which moral distress may occur including providing palliative care. The purpose of this integrative review was to determine the relationship between the provision of palliative care in a NICU and nurses' moral distress. The evidence reviewed supports that moral distress does occur with the provision of neonatal palliative care. An interdisciplinary care team, an established protocol, and educational interventions may decrease moral distress in nurses providing end-of-life care to infants in the NICU.