Abstract: Objective: To investigate the moral distress and job burnout among nurses in emergency department of tertiary grade A hospitals in Beijing, and to explore their relationships. Methods: A convenience sample of 256 nurses in emergency department of 7 tertiary grade A hospitals from six different districts in Beijing were investigated by a self-developed general information questionnaire, the Chinese version of Moral Distress Scale and Maslach Burnout Inventory. Results: The score of Moral distress was 60.43±16.07 and the score of job burnout was 63.41±16.23 of emergency nurses. The shift (t=1.917, P=0.018) and the education background (F=3.091, P=0.047) were the related factors of moral distress. While job burnout was related with the work experience (F=4.097, P=0.007) and the nature of employment (F=4.391, P=0.013). The Pearson correlation coefficient of distress and job burnout was 0.323 (P<0.001). Conclusion: Moral distress and job burnout were prevalent among emergency nurses in tertiary grade A hospitals in Beijing. The correlation between moral distress and job burnout was confirmed in the study. It is suggested that the nursing managers should take measures to reduce job burnout of nurses in emergence department for the healthy and sustainable development of the nursing team.

Key words: emergency department; nurses; moral distress; job burnout