Moral distress in public health practice: Case studies from nursing education

Moral distress in critical care nursing has been well studied; however, there is a gap in the literature related to moral distress among nurses and nursing students practicing in the community. This paper describes moral distress experienced during participation in the Interprofessional Care Access...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Public health Nursing 2021-11, Vol.38 (6), p.1088-1094
Main Authors: Wros, Peggy L., Mathews, Launa Rae, Beiers‐Jones, Kristen, Warkentin, Patti
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Case studies
Community nursing
Continuity of care
Education
Education, Nursing
Faculty, Nursing
Health care
Humans
Medical ethics
Medical personnel
moral distress
Moral injury
moral resilience
Morals
Neighborhoods
Nurses
Nursing
Nursing education
Poverty
Public health
public health nursing
Public Health Practice
Rural areas
Rural communities
Stress, Psychological
Students
Students, Nursing
undergraduate nursing education
underserved populations
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Moral distress in critical care nursing has been well studied; however, there is a gap in the literature related to moral distress among nurses and nursing students practicing in the community. This paper describes moral distress experienced during participation in the Interprofessional Care Access Network, a community‐based nurse‐led education and practice program providing longitudinal care coordination for underserved individuals and families in rural communities and urban neighborhoods. Two case studies represent client situations resulting in moral distress for nursing faculty and students. Contributing factors include unaddressed social determinants creating barriers to health and health care; inexperience and discomfort with people living in extreme poverty; lack of access to critical services for the most vulnerable; and powerlessness to influence discriminatory systems. Strategies are described to reduce moral distress and build moral resilience among students and faculty practicing in the community. Research is needed to expand understanding of causes, interventions, and consequences of moral distress in public health nursing.
ISSN:0737-1209
1525-1446
DOI:10.1111/phn.12948