Supervision, Moral Distress and Moral Injury Within Palliative Care—A Qualitative Study

The number of people requiring palliative care is increasing. This can result in moral and ethical conflicts that may lead to psychological distress and moral injury. (MI). Solutions are needed to counteract career abandonment—supervision (SV) could be one solution. This study examines the extent to which palliative care nurses link MI to their everyday experiences and whether SV can contribute to the identification and prevention of moral distress and MI. In addition, factors that influence the implementation of, participation in, and perception of SV are analyzed. A qualitative study design was chosen for the investigation, consisting of guided interviews, narrative-generating questions with seven participants working in palliative care, and participant observation with audio recording during two supervisions of two palliative care teams with 16 participants in total. The data was analyzed using qualitative content analysis according to Mayring. The results show differences in workload between acute and palliative care wards. Time pressure and hierarchical structures promote distress and MI and are particularly evident on acute wards. The interviewees described specific experiences of MI. In addition, factors were identified that influence participation in SV. The analysis of SV showed that workload is a key cause of moral distress and can have an impact on health. SV can be used for sensitization and exchange. Implementation and acceptance of SV depend on individual and structural factors. In palliative care, signs of moral distress are present and are specifically addressed in SV, which means that SV can be a tool for dealing with stressful situations.