Development and Validation of a Moral Distress Scale for Nursing Students.

Background And Purpose: This study aimed to develop and validate a scale to measure the frequency and the intensity of the moral distress experienced by nursing students.

Method: Methodological study in which a guideline with eight steps: (a) to determine what to measure, (b) to produce items, (c) format to measure, (d) review by experts, (e) validation of items, (f) sample, (g) assessment (h) scale length was used to develop and validate a scale. The sample was composed of 499 undergraduate nursing students from three Brazilian universities.

Results: Six constructs were identified in the factor analysis. The instrument and dimensions presented satisfactory internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients equal to .97 and between .60 and .97, respectively.

Conclusion: The developed scale is able to analyze the intensity and the frequency of Moral Distress in nursing students, in a valid and reliable way.