Epistemic Injustice and Nurse Moral Distress: Perspective for Policy Development

Area of Science:

• Nursing Ethics
• Healthcare Communication
• End-of-Life Care

Background:

• Frontline nurses experience moral distress during end-of-life care.
• Communication challenges exacerbate moral distress in this population.
• Existing research highlights the need for improved interprofessional collaboration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore epistemic injustice as a root cause of communication deficits.
• To identify strategies for enhancing interprofessional collaboration and communication.
• To advocate for policy changes supporting nurses' involvement in end-of-life care decisions.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of epistemic injustice in nursing practice.
• Review of literature on moral distress and interprofessional communication.
• Examination of policy implications for end-of-life care.

Main Results:

• Epistemic injustice hinders open communication, intensifying moral distress for nurses.
• Enhanced collaboration and communication are crucial for mitigating moral distress.
• Current policies may not adequately include frontline nurses in critical care discussions.

Conclusions:

• Addressing epistemic injustice is key to improving communication and reducing moral distress.
• Policy development must ensure inclusive interprofessional practice for end-of-life care.
• Empowering nurses through policy reform can enhance the quality of care provided.