Predict Moral Distress Using Workplace Stress, Stress of Conscience Mediated by Coping Using Roy Adaptation Model: A Path Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Moral distress can be predisposed when nurses are exposed to ambiguous moral situations.

PURPOSE: Is to test a conceptual model based on Roy adaptation model (RAM) to examine the relationship among workplace stress, conscience stress, and moral distress mediated by coping.

DESIGN: A correlational, cross sectional.

RESULTS: Data were collected from 199 licensed nurses. The findings indicated that workplace stress was related negatively to coping processes (β = -.12) and that stress of conscience was predictive of greater use of coping process (β = -.21).

CONCLUSION: The results indicated that the model suggested based on RAM is saturated and is the perfect fit. However, the alternative models indicated that workplace stress moderately predicted moral distress.