Table 5.

Emotional impact of relationship on nurses

Satisfaction

Delivering care matching aspirations leads to feelings of gratification, personal enrichment and privilege (Kociszewski 2003, 2004, Halcomb et al. 2004, De Bal et al. 2006, Nolan 2006, 2007, Calvin et al. 2007, Hov et al. 2007, Mackintosh 2007)

Distress

Contributing to unnecessary patient suffering – unable to relieve suffering, or implementing curative treatment plan with which they don't agree (Söderberg et al. 1999, Hopkinson et al. 2003, Halcomb et al. 2004, Gutierrez 2005, De Bal et al. 2006, Calvin et al. 2007, Hov et al. 2007)

Patient autonomy is constrained by factors outside of nurses' control (Eriksson & Saveman 2002, Nolan 2006, 2007)

Inadequate care (Eriksson & Saveman 2002, Nordam et al. 2005)