Ethical Stress in ICU Nurses During COVID-19 : a Literature Review

Abstract

This thesis explores the phenomenon of ethical stress experienced by Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to understand the primary causes of ethical stress among ICU nurses. Moreover, to explore these issues, this study utilizes a qualitative literature review to gather insights from existing research on ethical stress in ICU nurses during the COVID- 19 pandemic. For this study we have used literature review data collection and collected 17 articles for analysis. This study employs an inductive qualitative content analysis for its data analysis. The theoretical framework for this study is based on Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping. The results of the analysis indicate that ethical stress was largely driven by moral dilemmas, resource scarcity, triage decisions, institutional constraints, and lack of support. This stressor not only compromised the psychological health of nurses but also affected their job satisfaction and capacity to deliver patient care. Despite these challenges, the study also identified elements of resilience, such as solidarity, teamwork, and professional commitment, which helped reduce the effects of moral distress. This thesis underscores the urgent need for supportive institutional policies and ethics education to better trained nurses for future healthcare crisis.