Discussion question #1 -Moral Distress
Moral distress significantly influences the productivity and performance of employees in any organization. It can be defined as a state where one knows the ethically right thing to do, but they are prevented from doing it (American Nurses Association, 2015). Remarkably, the issue is rampant in the healthcare sector. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the causes of moral distress among nurses and strategies to curb the issue.
Various ways can be applied to recognize moral distress in myself and other nurses. First, I will watch for the physical symptoms of the condition. In this case, I will assess myself and determine whether I am experiencing headaches, insomnia, nightmares, and gastrointestinal issues. Besides, I will talk to other nurses to determine if they are experiencing the conditions. If other nurses and I are experiencing these issues, we may be experiencing moral distress (Morley, 2018). Secondly, a survey can be carried out to determine a correlation between individual performance and physical symptoms such as experiencing headaches, insomnia, nightmares, and gastrointestinal issues (American Nurses Association, 2015). The correlation between the two variables will indicate that there is an issue of moral distress. Therefore, I will assess the physical symptoms such as headaches, insomnia, nightmares, and gastrointestinal problems and the correlation between these symptoms and individual performance to determine moral distress.
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However, special measures can be applied to curb moral distress. First, employee counseling services should be contacted at the healthcare unit. In this case, nurses experiencing moral distress can be counseled as to why certain "wrong" decisions are made in the facility (Lev & Ayalon, 2018). Secondly, the unit can reach out to the professional associations for help. In this case, the associations can offer training and help the unit to overcome ethical issues. Thus, the association can help the healthcare unit to overcome moral distress by establishing an employee counseling unit in the facility and reach out to the professional associations to curb moral distress.
Conclusively, moral distress has an enhanced impact on nurses' performance and productivity in a care facility. To determine moral distress in other nurses and me at the workplace, I will assess the physical symptoms such as headaches, insomnia, nightmares, and gastrointestinal issues. Besides, I will evaluate the correlation between these symptoms and individual performance. However, the unit can establish an employee counseling unit in the facility and reach out to the professional associations to curb moral distress.
Discussion Question #2 - Cultural Competence
It is crucial to acknowledge that each individual was differently born. Particular, people have varying cultural backgrounds, which affect their individual ability to interact, communicate, and comprehend each other’s viewpoints. In this case, it impacts one’s productivity and performance at the work place. Notably, the issue is rampant in the healthcare sector. Therefore, it is important to explore how cultural competence, or lack of it, can impact patient care and ensure cultural competence among nurses.
Regarding cultural competence, it can significantly affect patient care. An ideal cultural competence ensures that the exact medical needs of patients are effectively met. Awareness that people have different linguistic and cultural backgrounds points out that effective communication with individual patients is essential (American Nurses Association, 2015). In this case, patients and healthcare practitioners can share ideas and options. Besides, nurses can collect relevant information from the patient, enabling them to make sound decisions (Creasia & Friberg, 2016). In the long-run, it leads to high levels of patient safety. However, distinct strategies work well for excellent communication, nursing assessment, and intervention (Alfaro-LeFevre, 2017). For instance, excellent communication works well with the nursing assessment. Besides, research strategies work efficiently with nurse assessment and intervention in the healthcare facility.
In conclusion, cultural competence impacts one’s ability to ability to interact, communicate, and comprehend each other’s viewpoints. Hence, it affects patient safety. Moreover, it promotes excellent communication where nurses can collect relevant information from the patient, enabling nurses to make sound decisions. In the long-run, it leads to high levels of patients safety.
References
Alfaro-LeFevre, R. (2017). Critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and clinical judgment: A practical approach. (6th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier. ISBN 9780323358927. Read Chapter 5.
American Nurses Association. (2015). Guide to code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements: development, interpretation, and application. (2nd ed.). Silver Spring: nursesbooks.org. ISBN: 9781558106031. Review Ethical Provisions 1-9.
Creasia, J. & Friberg, E. (2016). Conceptual foundations: The bridge to professional nursing practice (6th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier. ISBN: 978-0323299930. Read Chapters 12 & 14. .
Lev, S., & Ayalon, L. (2018). Moral distress among long-term care social workers: Questionnaire validation. Research on Social Work Practice , 28 (5), 628-637.
Morley, G. (2018). What is “moral distress” in nursing? How, can and should we respond to it?. Journal of clinical nursing , 27 (19-20), 3443.
