The moderating effects of racial climate and racial microaggressions on moral distress & intent to leave in nursing: A cross-sectional study

Aim: This study examines the association between racial climate and racial microaggressions on nurses' moral distress and intent to leave the organization. Background: Approximately one-fifth of registered nurses in the United States plan to leave the workforce by 2027, with work-related stress identified as one leading reason. Limited research has explored racial climate and racial microaggressions impact on nurses' moral distress and intent to leave. Design: A multisite cross-sectional observational study measured racial climate, racial microaggressions, moral distress, and intent to leave using validated instruments. Methods: Sample included 525 nurses employed at a large Mid-Atlantic academic health system who completed online surveys. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects modeling. Results: < .001) and intent to leave. Intent to leave scores were moderated by Racial Climate Scale scores across nurses' races when accounting for Moral Distress Scale scores and experiencing microaggression. Conclusions: Racial climate and microaggressions significantly impact moral distress and intent to leave, especially among non-White nurses.