Nurses’ moral distress and leadership communication in hospitals serving Black patients during COVID-19

Abstract

Background: Poorer leadership communication during COVID-19 may have contributed to the moral distress of nurses in hospitals where Black patients predominantly access their care (BSH). Purpose: To compare nurse moral distress and leadership communication during the COVID-19 pandemic in hospitals that serve disproportionately many or few patients of Black race. Methods: In a national hospital sample (n = 90), nurse survey data were collected (March 2021). Nurse moral distress was analyzed in linear regression models. The key covariates were BSH category (Medicare Black patient percentage) and leadership communication. Discussion: Nurses in high-BSH had significantly greater moral distress and more difficulty accessing personal protective equipment than nurses in low-BSH. The percentage of nurses in high-BSHs with high moral distress was double that of nurses in low-BSHs. Poorer leadership communication in BSHs accounted for the nurses’ greater moral distress. Conclusion: Policies should improve leadership communication, mitigate distress, and support nurses in under-resourced settings.