- Do you experience moral distress in your workplace?
I do experience moral distress at my workplace. Moral distress comes in many forms. As a nurse there are many things that put as in a position that challenges our conception of morality. One important thing to note is that our morality is shaped by key societal elements such as personal beliefs, culture, and religion. My nursing profession has often in some incidences where I have to deal with things that challenge what I believe in. For example, many patients use things such as cigars which may in some cases affect their health. I believe that cigars are not good for the health of patients. However, I cannot withhold such substances from them because doing so would violate the First Amendment which grants them their personal liberties.
- How do you handle situations which create moral distress for you?
I personally handle moral distress through asking for guidance from high officials within the workplace so as to get directions about how to handle different situations. This allows the stress to subside because I feel that more people are now working on a problem with the aim of obtaining a solution. Prayer and meditation are also key elements that have been important to me in terms of dealing with moral distress.
-How do the factors of emotions, religion and culture influence your responses?
One thing that is worth noting is that those people who are hot tempered or are soft-hearted cannot be able to adequately address moral distress. In many cases they end up being affected by different moral dilemmas or in some cases they may overreact in a situation that may not have demanded them in act in that way (Radzvin 29). Religion and culture can also limit people from being flexible enough to deal with moral distress. However with logic, reason, and guidance one can be able adequately address situations of moral distress.
- How do you see them respond to situations which cause moral distress?
Religion and culture in specific are key pillars that shape identity (Cummings 47). Therefore, most of the things that I find difficult to deal with are because the challenge my beliefs and what I consider to be culturally moral. Despite these two pillars being important, reason and logic enhances compromise in situations where compromising is deemed to be necessary.
- What other strategies could you think of to help nurses with moral distress in the workplace?
Other strategies that I would recommend to help nurses to deal with cases of moral distress are that they should not make haphazard decision on various moral issues. They should make sure that they thoroughly consult before acting in the case of a moral distress. In this way, nurses can be able to protect themselves from unnecessary agony.
Works Cited
Cummings, C. L. (2009). The effect of moral distress on nursing retention in the acute care setting. Gainesville, FL: University of Florida Press.
Radzvin, L. C. (2008). The occurrence of moral distress in certified registered nurse anesthetists. New York: Duquesne University.
