Moral Courage in Healthcare: Acting Ethically Even in the Presence of Risk

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

ojin septemeber 2010 has series of articles on moral courage and moral distress

moral courage in healthcare: acting ethically even in the presence of risk

colonel john s. murray, phd, rn, usaf, nc

abstract

healthcare professionals often face complex ethical dilemmas in the workplace. some professionals confront the ethical issues directly while others turn away. moral courage helps individuals to address ethical issues and take action when doing the right thing is not easy. in this article the author

defines moral courage

, describes ongoing

discussions related to moral courage

, explains how to

recognize moral courage

, and offers strategies for

developing and demonstrating moral courage

when faced

with ethical challenges.

overview and summary

• overview and summary: moral courage amid moral distress: strategies for action
  karen iseminger, phd, rn, fnp (september 30, 2010)
  

articles

• understanding and addressing moral distress
  elizabeth g. epstein, phd, rn; sarah delgado, msn, rn acnp-bc (september 30, 2010)
  
• strategies necessary for moral courage
  vicki d. lachman, phd, mbe, aprn (september 30, 2010)
  
• creating workplace environments that support moral courage
  cynthia ann lasala, ms, rn; dana bjarnason, phd, rn, ne-bc (september 30, 2010)
  
• moral courage and the nurse leader
  cole edmonson, ms, rn, fache, nea-bc (september 30, 2010)
  
• moral distress in academia
  kathryn m. ganske, phd, rn (september 30, 2010)
  

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Any moral courage I had was squelched when I got fired for it, twice.

[Art_Vandelay]

Any moral courage I had was squelched when I got fired for it, twice.

So sorry, canoehead. Horrible that it has to be that way. :-(. The PTB thrive on social bullying and conformity. Who is going to act if he needs to pay the bills and things happen like that which happened to canoe?

[tewdles, RN]

Yes, some of the most difficult times in my long nursing career have been precipitated by my "moral or ethical courage". And, like canoehead, it has cost me my employment twice.

[systoly]

I have never been fired, but have felt the financial consequences such as no raise and cut hours. In the end, I always felt I didn't accomplish a darn thing.

I have tried to ignore and look the other way, but that is much worse than being subject to special treatment by superiors, because you don't get to clock out and walk away from yourself. So for me, the only viable solution is to find a new job.

[elthia]

My moral/ethical courage almost cost me my job, and had my nurse manager use her friends to audit every chart I was in looking for a way to cost me my license. Luckily I charted too well. I quit before anything could happen.

Incident reports have a funny way of disappearing, especially if the person who wrote it was at the bottom of the pecking order. Live and learn.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I see I'm in good company. It cost me my job too........twice.

I'm proud I did what I did and I'd do it again......it is NOT an easy path but it's the right one........

[herring_RN, ASN, BSN]

with rare exceptions one nurse cannot do it alone. when all or most nurses work together and support each other they can prevail.

"before we secured a ban on mandatory overtime in our contract, an rn who had regularly worked nights and days was told at shift's end that she could not leave. the nurse broke into tears and the human resources director who had given the order took her into a room for a meeting. as the rn's nurse representative, i went along.

when i spoke up the hr person told me i was not allowed to talk and if i continued it would be insubordination. when i continued he took my badge and said i was suspended.

when i was called to a meeting, 25 other nurses went along to represent me. i was reinstated. we continued our opposition to mandatory overtime, talking about it in meetings, distributing leaflets about it in front of the hospital, and raising it in negotiations, and eventually we won.

malinda markowitz, rn, cna ­council of presidents

good samaritan hospital-san jose, california

http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/affiliates/entry/101-voice-respect

[Flatlander]

I am presently in a moral dilemma, having observed unsafe practices and having been rebuffed in my effort to discuss it with my immediate superior. Rather than taking it to the next level, at this point, I think I will try to get some backing from other nurses who observed the same thing. I can't afford to lose my job, but can't afford to lose my self-respect or my license for failure to report unsafe practices.

Would really like a discussion where others share more specifics. But I'll read the articles referenced above, too.

Thanks again, allnurses.com. You are my lifeline!