Wanted-nurses. Ethical issues and the nursing shortage

Area of Science:

• Nursing Ethics
• Healthcare Workforce Studies

Background:

• Persistent nursing shortages challenge professional values and ethical obligations.
• Nurses experience job dissatisfaction and moral distress due to insufficient staffing and maldistribution.
• Inability to provide quality patient care is a growing concern.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the ethical dilemma of self-care versus other-care for nurses amidst shortages.
• To explore how nurses can fulfill ethical responsibilities in challenging work environments.
• To propose actionable strategies for mitigating moral distress in nursing.

Main Methods:

• The article presents a conceptual analysis of the ethical challenges.
• It synthesizes existing literature on nursing shortages and moral distress.
• Recommendations are based on a review of potential interventions.

Main Results:

• Nurses face a conflict between their commitment to patients and their own well-being.
• Job dissatisfaction and moral distress are direct consequences of the nursing shortage.
• Systemic issues contribute significantly to the ethical challenges faced by nurses.

Conclusions:

• Reenvisioning the nursing profession is crucial for addressing ethical dilemmas.
• Empowering nurses, providing support, and restructuring the work environment can reduce moral distress.
• Implementing these changes enables nurses to honor their commitment to patient care while caring for themselves.