Abstract

Caring is felt to be the central theme underlying nursing. Moreover caring involves being present and mindful of whatever is needed at the time. In relation to this, moral distress where the concept of having adverse feelings that arise when one knows the morally correct response to a situation but cannot act accordingly is not unusual to nurses (Jameton, 1984). Defined as moral distress and separate from emotional distress this undermines the ability to care and can lead to burn out (Wiegand & Funk; 2012). Recently, the nature and intensity of patient care many nurses faced during the pandemic has led to an awareness and interest in moral distress. Although contributing factors and negative outcomes to the individual, profession and institution have been discussed in the literature, there is a paucity of literature and theoretical understanding of supportive measures to negate moral distress from the field of nursing. Using a reflective and personal account of experiencing moral distress and engaging in purposeful caring of colleagues this article aims to provide a better understanding of the concept of moral distress and caring in nursing. The construct of caring remains critical to the nursing profession perhaps even more so now than in the past. By exploring associated nursing theories from Jean Watson and Kristen Swanson, this article aims to illuminate and expand the knowledge base on how to mitigate moral distress through caring actions. These nursing theories can frame supportive nursing actions thus decreasing moral distress and illustrating the interrelations of nursing theory and the practice of compassionate nursing.

Keywords: Nursing, Moral Distress, Caring theory, Kristen Swanson, Jean Watson