Relationship between the Intention to Leave the Profession and the Novice Nurses’ Moral Distress in the COVID-19 Wards

Zahra  Rasooli Moghaddam; Maryam  Khandan

doi:10.18502/jimc.v9i2.21173

Zahra Rasooli Moghaddam Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Kerman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran
Maryam Khandan Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Kerman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jimc.v9i2.21173

Keywords: Censuses, COVID-19, Intention, Morals, Pandemics, Quality of health care, Workplace

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus pandemic led to significant moral distress among nurses, diminishing care quality and increasing their intention to leave the profession. Since the intention to leave the profession can predict future career abandonment, this study was conducted in 2022 to investigate the relationship between the intention to leave the profession and the moral distress of novice nurses working in the COVID-19 wards.

Methods: In this descriptive correlational study, 181 novice nurses working in the COVID-19 wards were recruited using the census method. Data were collected using Corley’s moral distress and intention to leave the profession questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS26.

Results: The results of the data analysis showed that the mean score of novice nurses’ intention to leave the profession was 40.70±8.02 and at a moderate level, and their mean moral distress was 71.03±35.60 and at a low level. Moreover, the results indicated a positive and significant relationship between the intention to leave the profession and moral distress (p<0.001, r=0.61). No significant relationship was observed between these nurses’ demographic variables, their intention to leave the profession, and moral distress (p>0.05).

Conclusion: This level of intention to leave the profession, the moral distress experienced by novice nurses working in the COVID-19 wards, and the positive and significant relationship between them is a warning for health policymakers. Therefore, holding training courses to manage moral distress in the workplace can be considered a solution.