Availability of palliative care lowers CCRN moral distress

Surveyed critical care nurses (CCRNs) at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville reported experiencing lower levels of moral distress when they believed they had access to palliative care for their patients. Moral distress often affects nurses who feel they lack clear treatment goals or are prolonging the dying process. The survey results, published in the October issue of Critical Care Nurse, indicate most respondents did not feel sufficiently prepared to talk with patients about their illnesses and draw out their goals for care. (Nurse.com story, 1/10/20)