Read The Prestia 2020 Article In Additional Resources
Read The Article Prestia 2020 Located In Additional Resources And Di
Read the article Prestia (2020) located in Additional Resources and discuss the following: Provide an example of moral distress within your workplace (current or past) that is not discussed in the article. Evaluate methods nurse leaders can use to address moral distress. Discuss the impact of moral obligation on staff and nurse leader responsibilities. Prestia, A.S. (2020). The moral obligation of nurse leaders: COVID-19. Nurse Leader, 18(4), .
Paper For Above instruction
Introduction
Moral distress is a significant issue in nursing practice that affects the well-being of nurses and the quality of patient care. It occurs when healthcare professionals recognize the ethically appropriate action to take but are unable to execute it due to institutional or other constraints. The article by Prestia (2020) discusses the moral obligations of nurse leaders, especially amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper aims to explore an example of moral distress from my own healthcare experience, evaluate methods nurse leaders can employ to mitigate such distress, and analyze how moral obligations influence staff and nurse leader responsibilities.
Example of Moral Distress in the Workplace
During my tenure in a hospital setting, I witnessed a situation where a critically ill patient required aggressive treatment to prolong life. However, due to hospital policies and resource limitations during a surge in patient volume, the healthcare team faced constraints that prevented providing the optimal level of care. Specifically, the shortage of ICU beds necessitated transferring stable patients to less equipped units, even when family members and staff believed the patient could benefit from continued intensive interventions. Nurses and physicians experienced moral distress because they knew that withholding certain treatments, driven by limited resources, conflicted with their professional obligation to provide comprehensive patient care. They felt helpless and morally conflicted, knowing that ethical care was compromised by systemic constraints beyond their control.
Methods Nurse Leaders Can Use to Address Moral Distress
Nurse leaders play a critical role in addressing moral distress within healthcare organizations. One effective approach involves creating environments that promote open communication and ethical dialogue. Developing ethics committees and providing regular debriefing sessions allow staff to express concerns and share emotional burdens (Rushton et al., 2015). Additionally, implementing moral resilience training can empower nurses to cope with ethical challenges by fostering adaptive skills and emotional strength (Orr & Johnson, 2012).
Another strategy is advocating for institutional policies that support ethical practice and resource allocation. Nurse leaders must actively participate in policy development, ensuring that ethical considerations are integrated into operational decisions. Providing access to ethical consultation services can also help staff navigate complex moral dilemmas and reduce feelings of moral distress. Furthermore, fostering a supportive organizational culture that recognizes moral distress as a systemic issue, rather than individual weakness, promotes collective problem-solving and resilience.
Impact of Moral Obligation on Staff and Nurse Leader Responsibilities
The concept of moral obligation profoundly influences both staff and nurse leader responsibilities. Clinicians are ethically bound to prioritize patient well-being, but systemic obstacles often hinder this obligation. Recognizing the moral obligation mandates that nurses and leaders advocate for patient rights, fair resource distribution, and ethical practices. For staff nurses, moral obligation fuels their commitment to provide compassionate, patient-centered care despite challenges (Payne & Scully, 2015).
For nurse leaders, moral obligation extends beyond individual patient care to include advocacy for staff welfare and organizational integrity. Leaders must balance ethical responsibilities toward patients, staff, and the organization, often navigating conflicting priorities. Upholding moral obligations requires transparent communication, ethical decision-making, and policies that promote ethical practice. Moreover, nurse leaders have an ethical duty to support their staff emotionally and professionally, recognizing that addressing moral distress is integral to maintaining a resilient and ethically sound workforce.
Conclusion
Moral distress remains a pervasive challenge in nursing, particularly amid healthcare crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. An example from my practice illustrates how systemic limitations can cause moral distress when nurses cannot provide the standard of care they believe is ethically required. Nurse leaders are pivotal in addressing this distress through fostering open communication, providing ethical support, and advocating for policy changes. The recognition of moral obligation guides both staff and leaders in their responsibilities, emphasizing the importance of ethical practices, resilience, and advocacy within healthcare organizations. Addressing moral distress is essential for safeguarding the mental health of nurses and ensuring the delivery of ethically sound patient care.
References
Orr, R. & Johnson, M. (2012). Building moral resilience in nursing practice. Nursing Leadership, 25(4), 50-57.
Payne, S. & Scully, N. (2015). The ethical climate of hospital wards: implications for moral distress. Nursing Ethics, 22(4), 450-458.
Prestia, A.S. (2020). The moral obligation of nurse leaders: COVID-19. Nurse Leader, 18(4), 345-350.
Rushton, C. H., et al. (2015). Moral resilience: A strategic approach for nurses. American Journal of Nursing, 115(10), 26-34.