Health Care Ethics through the Lens of Moral Distress

This book explores the theory-practice gap in contemporary health care ethics, highlighting the impact of moral distress on healthcare professionals and offering insights into why ethics matters on a personal level. It provides valuable contributions to scholarship and the profession, benefiting a wide range of stakeholders.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 158 pages
Publication date: 28 August 2021
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This book serves as a vital bridge between the theoretical realm of contemporary health care ethics and its practical application. It delves into the intricate and often messy realm of everyday ethical dilemmas, shedding light on their potential implications for healthcare professionals who function as wounded healers, often immersed in the proximity of suffering and pain. This book goes beyond the theoretical and addresses the personal significance of ethics, emphasizing how moral distress experiences can be harnessed rather than suppressed. It makes valuable contributions to both academic discourse and the practical realm of healthcare. Nurses, physicians, social workers, allied health care professionals, as well as academics and students, will greatly benefit from the insights and perspectives offered within this book.

Introduction:
In today's complex and rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, the gap between theory and practice in health care ethics has become a pressing concern. While ethical principles and guidelines are essential for guiding healthcare professionals, the realities of clinical practice can often complicate the application of these principles. This book aims to bridge this gap by exploring the messiness of everyday ethical issues and validating the potential impacts on healthcare professionals as wounded healers who regularly experience close proximity to suffering and pain.

Why Ethics Matters on a Personal Level:
Ethics goes beyond the realm of professional obligations and encompasses the deeply personal dimensions of our lives. It touches upon the values, beliefs, and moral convictions that shape our actions and decisions. This book recognizes the importance of ethics on a personal level and explores how moral distress experiences can be leveraged rather than hidden. It encourages healthcare professionals to reflect on their own values and moral compass, fostering a deeper understanding of their role in promoting ethical practices.

Moral Distress Experiences:
Moral distress is a distressing feeling that arises when healthcare professionals encounter situations that violate their ethical values or compromise the well-being of patients. It can manifest in various ways, such as feeling overwhelmed, conflicted, or powerless. This book acknowledges the existence of moral distress and explores how it can be addressed and managed. It provides practical strategies and tools for healthcare professionals to navigate ethical dilemmas, promoting a culture of ethical resilience and integrity.

Contributions to Scholarship and the Profession:
This book offers valuable contributions to both scholarship and the profession. It provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to health care ethics, drawing from various fields such as philosophy, nursing, medicine, and social work. By presenting a rich array of perspectives and case studies, it fosters a deeper understanding of the complex ethical challenges faced by healthcare professionals. Moreover, it serves as a valuable resource for educators, training programs, and continuing professional development, equipping healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to deliver ethical care.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this book provides a timely and insightful exploration of the theory-practice gap in contemporary health care ethics. It sheds light on the messiness of everyday ethical issues, validates the potential impacts on healthcare professionals, and emphasizes the personal significance of ethics. By offering practical strategies and tools for managing moral distress, it contributes to the development of ethical resilience and integrity in the healthcare profession. As healthcare professionals, we must embrace the importance of ethics on a personal and professional level, striving to provide compassionate and ethical care to our patients and communities.

Weight: 279g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030561581
Edition number: 1st ed. 2020