Moral distress in perinatal nursing.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Ethics
• Bioethics
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Moral distress is an emerging concept in nursing ethics.
• It differs from ethical dilemmas, occurring when nurses know the right action but face institutional or peer constraints.
• This phenomenon impacts healthcare professionals' well-being and ethical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define and explore the concept of moral distress in nursing.
• To identify strategies for facilitating moral action in situations of moral distress.
• To discuss the development of resilience and research implications for moral distress.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of moral distress in nursing ethics.
• Examination of strategies for moral action, including whistleblowing and collaborative practice models.
• Discussion of quieter forms of moral action and resilience building.

Main Results:

• Moral distress is a process involving recognition, emotional distress, strategy selection, and action.
• Whistleblowing and collaborative practice are identified as potential strategies for moral action.
• The study highlights the importance of developing strength to move from distress to action.

Conclusions:

• Moral distress is a significant ethical challenge in nursing requiring specific strategies for resolution.
• Moving from moral distress to moral action is crucial for ethical nursing practice and professional well-being.
• Further research is needed to address this emerging ethical issue in healthcare.