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  • Purpose The purpose of this article is to provide conceptual clarification of secondary traumatic stress (STS) in nurses. Background As an empathetic helping profession, nurses are at increased risk for STS. Interchangeable usage of related terms among multidisciplinary literature has resulted in lack of conceptual clarity resulting in conflation of terms. Conceptual clarity is necessary for a foundation for further research on treatment. Methods Rodgers' evolutionary model of concept analysis. Results Nurses are predisposed to STS due to exposure, empathy, bonding, and personal factors. Essential attributes were found to be posttraumatic stress disorder-like symptoms, biological symptoms, social symptoms, and psychological symptoms. Resultant consequences included an altered worldview, interpersonal difficulties, and decreased occupational commitment. Conclusion This concept analysis, the first focusing on STS, provides conceptual clarity and a concept map of STS within the nursing population.

  • Background:Moral distress has detrimental effects on nurses which impacts the entire healthcare cycle. Described as a crescendo effect, resolved situations of moral distress leave residue on the nurse with three potential outcomes: moral numbing, conscious objection to the situation, and burnout.Objective:This metaethnography strives to achieve a fuller understanding of moral distress by interpreting the body of qualitative work of moral distress in emergency and critical care nurses.Method:This study used the Noblit and Hare?s approach of interpretative synthesis. Ten studies met the criteria and were used in this synthesis.Ethical considerations:Ethical issues were minimal since no human subjects were involved. Ethical requirements were respected in all study phases.Results:The synthesis of qualitative research on moral distress resulted in one central theme, ?the battle within,? and five subthemes.Conclusions:The unique nature of this nursing specialty resulted in a lasting inner conflict for nurses that is consistent with the previously described crescendo effect. The effects are complex and long lasting and may potentially affect the nurses? future patient care.

Last update from database: 3/13/26, 4:15 PM (UTC)

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