Moral Distress

Moral distress occurs when someone perceives a moral obligation but faces barriers that prevent acting on it. Moral resilience may buffer distress but cannot substitute for systemic remedies. Structural drivers of moral distress included redeployment, information asymmetry, shortages, and limited decision-making involvement. The pandemic increased the frequency of moral challenges and exposed limitations in support systems. Moral challenges can threaten both staff well-being and the ethical quality of care. Unresolved moral distress can lead to enduring stress reactions and secondary psychological consequences.