When nurses' vulnerability challenges their moral integrity: A discursive paper

Area of Science:

• Nursing Ethics
• Moral Philosophy
• Healthcare Professional Well-being

Background:

• Vulnerability and integrity are key concepts in nursing, typically focused on patients.
• These concepts are often studied in isolation, neglecting their interconnectedness in nursing practice.
• The existing literature rarely addresses nurses' own vulnerability and integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define the moral dimensions of nurses' vulnerability and integrity.
• To elucidate the relationship between these concepts within clinical nursing practice.
• To enhance the nuanced understanding of nurses' moral experiences.

Main Methods:

• A discursive analysis of the relationship between vulnerability and integrity in nursing.
• Application of established vulnerability concepts (Mackenzie et al., 2014) to nurses.
• Expansion of moral integrity concepts (Hardingham, 2004) to the nursing context.
• Illustrative scenarios and cross-case discussion to examine vulnerabilities and their impact on moral integrity.

Main Results:

• Vulnerability and integrity are complementary moral concepts with theoretical and practical significance.
• Not all vulnerabilities threaten moral integrity; specific forms pose a risk.
• The interplay between vulnerability and integrity is influenced by moral distress.

Conclusions:

• Joint consideration of vulnerability and integrity offers valuable insights for nursing.
• Identifying specific threats to nurses' integrity is crucial for targeted interventions.
• Strategies to buffer threats and promote moral resilience are essential at multiple healthcare system levels.