Moral Distress

Practicing nurses need confidence in confronting morally complex situations to reduce the potential for moral injury, and thus prevent moral distress and burnout (Rushton, Batcheller, & Schroeder, 2015). To gain this self-confidence, nurses need to identify appropriate levels of moral responsibility in situations of moral ambiguity or complexity. Understanding the concept of moral resilience will be helpful in creating prevention and intervention strategies. An illustrative case, table of definitions, and attributes of moral resilience are described, with discussion of how leaders can support resilience by building an ethical workplace. Nursing Students Student Assist

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I'm a nursing student and I would like if some fellow nurses could answer these questions for me taking this article in mind: Moral_Resilience_Managing_and.pdf

As a nursing student I have not dealt with this firsthand and I would like to know how you handle moral and ethical dilemmas.

A. Describe what moral distress means to you and provide basic examples of times you have felt moral distress (i.e., feeling frustrated in a subordinate role as a nurse, resenting the physician's reluctance to address a situation, feeling frustrated with patient and/or family members)

B. What professional characteristics do you feel are the most important to provide the best nursing care?

C. What are positive actions nurses can take to prevent moral distress?

D. Using some of the topics discussed, provide an example of a professional ethical dilemma you have encountered and how you addressed it. This can be nurse-patient/family, nurse-nurse (or another peer colleague), nurse-provider, nurse-employer.

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Sounds more like you would like us to do your homework for you. Why don't you tell us your thoughts after you read the article and we can expand on them.

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Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology RN.

@ABSNCU2019 These questions are meant for you to think about it and answer it on your own... Nobody is going to read an article and answer questions for you. They will be here to help if you have questions about your own work you put into it.

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I was afraid that's what it would look like but that was not my intention. I felt that leaving the article would help because moral distress can be interpreted differently. I should have phrased it better. It is for an assignment where they want us to interview a nurse and have them answer these questions. So I would like your personal opinions because I do not have the experience you do. I can only imagine the moral distress you may have experienced. But I will put my answers so you can know what I think.

1)Moral distress for me is being put in a situation that I feel is ethically wrong where I feel there is a better action available. Where an inner struggle ensues between doing the right thing vs. following hospital protocol.

2) Good characteristics would be to have courage and resilience because nursing will be challenging. To use sound judgment, to be empathetic, and caring. To be someone that practices the golden rule which is to treat others how you would want to be treated.

3) During my time in nursing school they are encouraging us to speak up, to question the system. I think as a nurse when you feel moral distress, that is your moral compass telling you something feels off. I would be resilient and speak up for the patient and do my best to advocate for them.

4) For example, in my past job I have seen many family members make decisions to prolong a life when the patient clearly verbally objected. But since the patient is older, and deemed as incompetent due to a mental disease, doctors and nurses have followed with care at the insistence of the family. I have seen the inner struggle of nurses having to provide tube feeding, give medications, while the patient is saying just let me die.

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Thank you for showing us your effort. Just one more thing. We have many students who post these types of assignments (interview a nurse). We need you to realize that not everyone here is a nurse (even if they say they are) and you'll need to make sure on-line interviews are acceptable to your instructor given that you can't be certain you will get answers from actual nurses. Most often these types of assignments are meant to be face-to-face and serve multiple purposes. Honestly I think that's the best way to do it. Think of it as networking. Let us know what he/she says.

BTW-I liked your answers.

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Hey,

Thanks for your response. My instructor is fine with it as long as it's not my only source. I have obtained responses from my preceptor but I wanted more diversity of thought and experiences. I felt like trying a thread and seeing how it went. I really enjoy reading other discussion threads, and they can be very informational and thought provoking.

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