Moral distress is caused by situations in which the ethically appropriate course of action is known but cannot be taken. Kate Pyedescribes a linical situation that resulted in her own moral distress and explores how this issue can be faced

Moral distress is an emerging concept within nursing ethics. It occurs hen the practitioner understands or believes that they know the right thing to do but are constrained by obstacles (Jameton 1984). This article describes a difficult situation that I experienced as a senior ward manager which illustrates how moral distress manifests itself in practice and the impact that this may have on a clinical team.