Resilience, Moral Distress, and Workplace Engagement in Emergency Department Nurses

Abstract

This cross-sectional, correlational study’s purpose was to evaluate the effects of resilience and moral distress on workplace engagement in emergency department nurses providing direct patient care. Data were collected from 175 emergency department nurses using a Web-based survey. The higher the nurses’ resilience and the lower their moral distress, the greater their workplace engagement. Resilience and moral distress were not correlated; furthermore, moral distress did not mediate a relationship between resilience and workplace engagement. Resilience was higher with greater job satisfaction, increased age, and longer tenure as a nurse. Workplace engagement increased with higher job satisfaction and less time seeking other employment. Moral distress scores were higher in nurses reporting lower job satisfaction. Multiple regression analysis revealed that resilience, job satisfaction, and moral distress were independent predictors of workplace engagement. Interventions that improve resilience and job satisfaction and/or lower moral distress may improve workplace engagement of emergency department nurses.