Exploring the moderating role of health-promoting behaviours and self-compassion on the relationship between clinical decision-making and nurses’ well-being

Background: Clinical decision-making is an essential part of the nursing role and has implications for both patient care and nurses’ well-being. Aim: This study aimed to explore the relationship between nurses’ perceptions of clinical decision-making ability and moral distress across a nursing population, and the potential link to self-compassion and health-promoting behaviours. Methods: A self-report questionnaire was distributed to a sample of nurses (N = 152) from April to September 2022. The survey explored nurses’ perceptions of clinical decision-making ability, moral distress, physical activity, grazing, stress-eating, burnout and self-compassion. Results: Perceived clinical decision-making ability was associated with moral distress experience, and both self-compassion and grazing moderated this relationship, independently. Conclusion: Findings highlight the link between nurses’ perceptions of clinical decision-making ability and moral distress experience. Both eating behaviours and self-compassion influence the relationship between these two factors and identify potential areas that may support (and hinder) nurses’ well-being through clinical decision-making. These findings reinforce the importance of healthy eating habits and being self-compassionate to prevent moral distress arising as a result of clinical decision-making.