International journal of nursing practice
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Burnout is a major contributor to shortages of experienced nurses. The research literature shows a correlation between moral distress and burnout in critical care nurses. This paper reports on part of an interpretive interactionist study concerning nurses' experiences of moral distress which prompted attempts to advocate for vulnerable patients. ⋯ When attempts at advocacy were unsuccessful, the nurses experienced intensified moral distress, frustration and anger. Being an unsuccessful advocate resulted in nurses being relocated within the hospital, nurses being scapegoated and/or burning out. The theoretical links which this paper makes between advocacy, moral distress and burnout are supported by empirical data from the study.