ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the intensity and frequency of moral distress in mental health nurses in Brazil. Method: Cross-sectional study with 173 nurses from the Psychosocial Care Network in Brazil. The Brazilian Scale of Moral Distress in Nurses, adapted for the context of mental health, was used. For data processing, descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was used. Results: Mostly moderate levels of intensity and frequency of moral distress (medians between 2.25 – 3.73 and 2.00 – 3.22, respectively) were observed, with emphasis on the factors working conditions and social conflicts. Conclusion: The level of moral distress evidenced in mental health nurses in Brazil reflects the dimension and amplitude of the phenomenon in different points of the Psychosocial Care Network. The relevance of discussions on coping strategies for moral distress is highlighted, articulating elements such as sensitivity, resilience, and moral courage, so that ethical deliberation is applied in care and management settings.
RESUMEN Objetivo: Evaluar la intensidad y frecuencia del sufrimiento moral en enfermeros de salud mental en Brasil. Método: Estudio transversal con 173 enfermeros de la Red de Atención Psicosocial del territorio brasileño. Se utilizó la Escala Brasileña de Sufrimiento Moral en Enfermeros adaptada para el contexto de la salud mental. Se utilizó análisis estadístico descriptivo e inferencial para el procesamiento de datos. Resultados: Se observó, en su mayoría, niveles moderados de intensidad y frecuencia de sufrimiento moral (medianas entre 2,25 – 3,73 y 2,00 – 3,22, respectivamente), con énfasis en los factores condiciones de trabajo y conflictos sociales. Conclusión: El nivel de sufrimiento moral evidenciado en enfermeros de salud mental en Brasil refleja la dimensión y amplitud del fenómeno en los diferentes puntos de la Red de Atención Psicosocial. Se destaca la relevancia de las discusiones sobre estrategias de enfrentamiento del sufrimiento moral, articulando elementos como la sensibilidad, la resiliencia y el coraje moral, para que la deliberación ética sea aplicada en contextos de cuidado y gestión.
RESUMO Objective: To assess the intensity and frequency of moral distress in mental health nurses in Brazil. Method: Cross-sectional study with 173 nurses from the Psychosocial Care Network in Brazil. The Brazilian Scale of Moral Distress in Nurses, adapted for the context of mental health, was used. For data processing, descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was used. Results: Mostly moderate levels of intensity and frequency of moral distress (medians between 2.25 – 3.73 and 2.00 – 3.22, respectively) were observed, with emphasis on the factors working conditions and social conflicts. Conclusion: The level of moral distress evidenced in mental health nurses in Brazil reflects the dimension and amplitude of the phenomenon in different points of the Psychosocial Care Network. The relevance of discussions on coping strategies for moral distress is highlighted, articulating elements such as sensitivity, resilience, and moral courage, so that ethical deliberation is applied in care and management settings.
