title: Moral distress in the neonatal intensive care unit: an Italian study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency, the intensity and the level of moral distress experienced by nurses working in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire survey involving 472 nurses working in 15 level III NICUs. Frequency, intensity and level of moral distress was evaluated using a modified version of Moral Distress Scale Neonatal-Pediatric Version. Socio-demographic data were also collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four hundred six nurses completed the study material indicating a low-to-moderate experience of moral distress. The situations receiving the highest scores for frequency, intensity and level of moral distress related to the initiation of extensive life-saving actions and participation to the care of ventilator-dependent child. No difference in the mean scores of moral distress was found according to the socio-demographic characteristics investigated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study provides further insight into the moral distress experienced by nurses working in Italian NICUs.
authors.affiliation: Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Ca Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, S.I.T.R.A. Basic Education Sector, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sannino
authors.affiliation: Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Ca Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Neonatal Intesive Care Unit, Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Giannì
authors.affiliation: Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Ca Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, S.I.T.R.A. Basic Education Sector, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Re
authors.affiliation: Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Ca Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Courses Session Department of Biomedical Science for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lusignani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000941:ethics*; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009014:Morals; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000941:ethics* / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult