Event Title
Bolstering Moral Courage and Ethical Decision-Making Confidence to Moderate Nurse Leader Moral Distress
Location
Central Division
Start Date
26-10-2023 11:20 AM
End Date
26-10-2023 11:35 AM
Description
Abstract:
Bolstering Moral Distress Knowledge, Ethical Decision-Making Confidence, and Moral Courage Among Nurse Leaders
Background
Nurse leaders report low confidence navigating ethical dilemmas. Ethical dilemmas arise when ethical values are challenged, causing uncertainty about how to proceed. Left unresolved, ethical dilemmas impact ethical decision-making and can lead to moral distress. Moral distress is the anguish that occurs when there is recognition of an ethical dilemma necessitating a professional obligation to act, yet barriers exist to taking the ethically correct course of action.
To reduce moral distress, nurse leaders not only need to be able to identify an ethical dilemma, know organizational policies, and understand options for resolution; nurse leaders must be willing to act, requiring moral courage. Moral courage is the ability to speak up when faced with an ethical issue, despite the potential for adverse outcomes. When strengthened, moral courage supports the actualization of work-related ethical decision-making.
Nurse leaders in a Northwest medical center reported moral distress navigating role-specific ethical decisions and identified the need for professional development opportunities and resources to manage moral distress and bolster moral courage.
Purpose
To examine the impact of an evidence-based learning intervention on nurse leader knowledge of moral distress concepts, ethical decision-making confidence, and professional moral courage.
Methods
Select nurse leaders in a Northwest medical center were invited to complete an asynchronous eLearning module containing moral distress and ethical decision-making concepts, followed by a live virtual session which included practice using a moral distress tool and an ethical decision-making framework.
Prior to starting the module, participants completed: an author-created 4 question knowledge test, and two valid and reliable tools: the Professional Moral Courage Scale (PMCS), and 3 select questions from the Perceived Confidence Scale (PCS). The PMCS used a 1 to 7 Likert scale, and the PCS a 1 to 5 Likert scale, with higher scores indicating higher moral courage or perceived confidence. The knowledge test included three multiple-choice questions scored as percentage correct out of 100%, and one Likert scale question with higher scores reflecting increased confidence.
After the live session, participants repeated the baseline measures and completed an author-created summative evaluation on the usefulness of the intervention. Paired t-tests were conducted across quantitative measures. Themes were identified from the open-ended qualitative evaluation questions.
Results
Thirty-six nurse leaders completed the e-learning module and associated knowledge test. Twenty-four nurse leaders completed the entire educational intervention (module, live session, and all measurement tools). Significant improvements were observed across all quantitative measures: the knowledge items (M=81% vs M=100%, p<.001 and M=2.8 vs M=3.6, p<.001), professional moral courage (M=5.8 versus M=6.1, p<.001), and perceived ethical decision-making confidence (M=3.7 versus M=4.5, p=.007). Themes from the open-ended evaluation responses revealed leaders’ positive perceptions of the intervention and desire for additional forums to support their ethical decision-making capacity.
Conclusion
This evidence-based intervention provided nurse leaders with valuable resources to address moral distress, increase ethical decision-making confidence, and bolster moral courage.
Implications for Practice
Nurse leader professional development aimed at identifying moral distress, improving ethical decision-making confidence, and bolstering moral courage, is a compelling tactic to promote ethical leadership practice.
Recommended Citation
Krening, Lisa, "Bolstering Moral Courage and Ethical Decision-Making Confidence to Moderate Nurse Leader Moral Distress" (2023). Central Division Nurse Clinical Inquiry Conference. 29.
https://digitalcommons.providence.org/central_nurs_conf/2023/agenda/29
Included in
Bolstering Moral Courage and Ethical Decision-Making Confidence to Moderate Nurse Leader Moral Distress
Central Division
Abstract:
Bolstering Moral Distress Knowledge, Ethical Decision-Making Confidence, and Moral Courage Among Nurse Leaders
Background
Nurse leaders report low confidence navigating ethical dilemmas. Ethical dilemmas arise when ethical values are challenged, causing uncertainty about how to proceed. Left unresolved, ethical dilemmas impact ethical decision-making and can lead to moral distress. Moral distress is the anguish that occurs when there is recognition of an ethical dilemma necessitating a professional obligation to act, yet barriers exist to taking the ethically correct course of action.
To reduce moral distress, nurse leaders not only need to be able to identify an ethical dilemma, know organizational policies, and understand options for resolution; nurse leaders must be willing to act, requiring moral courage. Moral courage is the ability to speak up when faced with an ethical issue, despite the potential for adverse outcomes. When strengthened, moral courage supports the actualization of work-related ethical decision-making.
Nurse leaders in a Northwest medical center reported moral distress navigating role-specific ethical decisions and identified the need for professional development opportunities and resources to manage moral distress and bolster moral courage.
Purpose
To examine the impact of an evidence-based learning intervention on nurse leader knowledge of moral distress concepts, ethical decision-making confidence, and professional moral courage.
Methods
Select nurse leaders in a Northwest medical center were invited to complete an asynchronous eLearning module containing moral distress and ethical decision-making concepts, followed by a live virtual session which included practice using a moral distress tool and an ethical decision-making framework.
Prior to starting the module, participants completed: an author-created 4 question knowledge test, and two valid and reliable tools: the Professional Moral Courage Scale (PMCS), and 3 select questions from the Perceived Confidence Scale (PCS). The PMCS used a 1 to 7 Likert scale, and the PCS a 1 to 5 Likert scale, with higher scores indicating higher moral courage or perceived confidence. The knowledge test included three multiple-choice questions scored as percentage correct out of 100%, and one Likert scale question with higher scores reflecting increased confidence.
After the live session, participants repeated the baseline measures and completed an author-created summative evaluation on the usefulness of the intervention. Paired t-tests were conducted across quantitative measures. Themes were identified from the open-ended qualitative evaluation questions.
Results
Thirty-six nurse leaders completed the e-learning module and associated knowledge test. Twenty-four nurse leaders completed the entire educational intervention (module, live session, and all measurement tools). Significant improvements were observed across all quantitative measures: the knowledge items (M=81% vs M=100%, p<.001 and M=2.8 vs M=3.6, p<.001), professional moral courage (M=5.8 versus M=6.1, p<.001), and perceived ethical decision-making confidence (M=3.7 versus M=4.5, p=.007). Themes from the open-ended evaluation responses revealed leaders’ positive perceptions of the intervention and desire for additional forums to support their ethical decision-making capacity.
Conclusion
This evidence-based intervention provided nurse leaders with valuable resources to address moral distress, increase ethical decision-making confidence, and bolster moral courage.
Implications for Practice
Nurse leader professional development aimed at identifying moral distress, improving ethical decision-making confidence, and bolstering moral courage, is a compelling tactic to promote ethical leadership practice.
