After reading the Lachman article located in the resources section I want you to describe situations you may encounter as a new nurse that could impact your moral resilience. You may choose to include situations from your past. As you think about these situations consider how you can build up your moral resilience. The discussion posting should also address the differences between moral injury, moral distress and moral residue, as well as how you would cope with each of those challenges.
Please in APA format and no plagiarism, correct spelling and grammar
Introduction Moral resilience is an essential trait for any healthcare worker, especially for nurses who encounter ethical and moral dilemmas on a daily basis. The ability to bounce back from a moral challenge and continue to provide compassionate care is what defines moral resilience. However, as a new nurse, one can encounter several situations that could impact their moral resilience. This essay discusses some of these situations, how to build up moral resilience, and the differences between moral injury, moral distress, and moral residue.
Situations that impact moral resilience As a new nurse, one may encounter several situations that challenge their moral resilience. One such situation is the inability to provide quality care due to inadequate staffing or resources. This situation can lead to moral distress, which is the emotional response to a situation where one is unable to act in accordance with their ethical beliefs. For example, a nurse may be forced to leave a patient unattended due to the unavailability of another nurse to cover their shift, leading to moral distress.
Another situation that can impact moral resilience is the inability to advocate for a patient’s rights due to bureaucratic constraints. This situation can lead to moral injury, which is the psychological response to a situation where one’s moral beliefs have been violated. For example, a nurse may not be able to advocate for a patient’s right to receive appropriate pain medication due to hospital policies that prioritize cost-cutting measures over patient care.
Lastly, a situation that can impact moral resilience is the aftermath of medical errors or adverse events. This situation can lead to moral residue, which is the emotional and psychological impact that lingers long after the event. For example, a nurse who administers the wrong medication to a patient may experience guilt, shame, and fear of consequences long after the incident.
Building up moral resilience To build up moral resilience, nurses need to engage in activities that promote self-care, ethical decision-making, and reflective practice. Self-care activities, such as exercise, meditation, and spending time with loved ones, can help nurses cope with the emotional toll of their work. Ethical decision-making involves seeking out education and training on ethical issues and applying this knowledge to everyday practice. Reflective practice involves engaging in self-reflection and seeking out feedback from peers and mentors to improve ethical decision-making.
Differences between moral injury, moral distress, and moral residue Moral injury, moral distress, and moral residue are all psychological and emotional responses to moral challenges. However, they differ in their causes and outcomes. Moral injury is caused by a violation of one’s moral beliefs, leading to feelings of guilt, shame, and betrayal. Moral distress is caused by an inability to act in accordance with one’s moral beliefs, leading to emotional and psychological turmoil. Moral residue is the lingering emotional and psychological impact of a moral challenge that persists long after the event.
Coping with moral injury, moral distress, and moral residue Coping with moral injury involves seeking out support from colleagues, supervisors, and mental health professionals. Coping with moral distress involves engaging in reflective practice, seeking out ethical decision-making training, and advocating for systemic changes that prioritize patient care. Coping with moral residue involves engaging in self-reflection and seeking out feedback to improve ethical decision-making in the future.
Conclusion Moral resilience is an essential trait for nurses to provide compassionate care in the face of ethical and moral dilemmas. As a new nurse, one may encounter situations that challenge their moral resilience, such as inadequate staffing, bureaucratic constraints, and adverse events. To build up moral resilience, nurses need to engage in activities that promote self-care, ethical decision-making, and reflective practice. Understanding the differences between moral injury, moral distress, and moral residue and developing coping strategies can help nurses provide ethical and compassionate care.