Nurse Reese is anxious as she believes that she lacks the moral courage to confront Nurse Maryn, whom she suspects of unethical behavior. She is worried, and her fear of an unpleasant confrontation ensuing prevents her from defending her core values and ethical obligation as a registered nurse. Based on Nurse Reese's observations of Nurse Maryn's behaviors, it is evident that she understands what unethical behavior is and her moral obligation. Thus, her anxiety is because she has developed moral sensitivity as a professional. According to Dinndorf-Hogenson (2015), nurses must understand that they might face adversity when confronting unethical behavior. Thus, Nurse Reese must overcome her fears since she has an obligation to her patients and the healthcare organization to do the right thing when she observes an unethical event.
A person with moral courage is one that defends their values, ethics, and beliefs, even though their reputation, emotional stability, or employment is at risk. When an individual has moral courage, they overcome their fears and are willing to endure distress when confronting unethical situations. Nurse Reese's intervention on behalf of the patients who are being mistreated is an act of moral courage since she is willing to do the right thing even though it may lead to an unpleasant confrontation with Nurse Maryn. According to Dinndorf-Hogenson (2015), nurses must always be ready to address unethical behavior, which may jeopardize the safety of the patient. Therefore, exerting moral courage requires the nurse to assess the situation and the risks involved and implement a professional approach to manage the situation. Nurses must understand that the risk of speaking up is worth it. Moreover, acting courageously is an ideal ethical competency as it allows nurses to defend their moral obligation by staying committed and dedicated to the personal and professional ethical principles.
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References
Dinndorf-Hogenson, G. (2015). Moral Courage in Practice: Implications for Patient Safety. Journal of Nursing Regulation, Volume 6, Issue 2, Pages 10–16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2155-8256(15)30381-1
