Addressing moral distress through creation of a just culture in nursing education

4^th International Conference on Nursing & Healthcare

October 05-07, 2015 San Francisco, USA

Rhonda L Reader

Crouse Hospital College of Nursing, USA

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Nurs Care

Abstract :

The purpose of this qualitative study (n=15) was to uncover and describe the experiences of moral distress among students enrolled in Associate Degree Nursing programs. The research questions aimed to describe the aspects of the experience of nursing education that cause moral distress among nursing students; how moral distress impacts the education and experience of nursing students and identify how nursing students cope with morally distressing events. While it has been established that moral distress among professional nurses negatively impacts retention of the workforce, the literature was limited and unclear on how students experienced moral distress during their academic careers and more specifically, what aspects of nursing education created moral distress for students. The findings will be presented through an exemplar narrative representative of the themes, dealing with the inherent stress of nursing school while also dealing with situations of moral distress; learning and working in an unjust culture; disempowerment and status and moral residue and regret. This study adds to the existing body of knowledge about moral distress in nursing and provides insight into how nursing students experience moral distress in nursing education. The students� narratives gave an intimate, personal view of lived experience and emphasized significant aspects requiring attention in nursing education and more broadly in the profession of nursing. Creation of a supportive learning environment, one that incorporates the principles of a Just Culture may significantly reduce the intensity and frequency of students� moral distress in the academic environment.

Biography :

Email: rhondareader@crouse.org