Moral Agency in Nursing: seeing value In the work and believing that i make a difference

Abstract

The subject of this article is moral agency in nursing, studied by the use of an applied philosophical method. It draws upon nurses' accounts of how they see intrinsic value in their work and believe that they make a difference to patients in terms that leave their patients feeling better. The analysis is based on the philosophy of Iris Murdoch to reveal how nurses' accounts demonstrated that they hold a view of themselves and their professional practice that is intrinsically linked to, and dependent upon, their capacity to see good in the work they do.

The effect of management commitment to service quality on frontline employees' affective and performance outcomes: an empirical investigation of the New Zealand public healthcare sector

“…What may be more important to these individuals is the satisfaction derived from knowing they are alleviating patient problems and distress. Although publicly funded health organisations can be difficult to work in, and many health organisations constantly confront high staff turnover and staff shortages, individuals working in such settings are motivated by a desire to care for people and enjoy working in an environment that allows them to do just this (Hayes, 1993;Pask, 2003).…”

The attitudes of neonatal nurses towards extremely preterm infants

“…A nurse’s ‘professional’ self is based on the moral ‘worth’ they gain from their actions. When nurses experienced positive affirmation from making a positive difference to a patient, they associated this with ‘feelings of achievement…that contributed to their developing professional self‐image’ (Pask 2003, p. 171). The nurses in this study reached consensus that the use of advanced technology brought with it increased ethical dilemmas.…”

Compassion fatigue and nursing work: Can we accurately capture the consequences of caring work?

“…This psychic quality suggests that compassion affects our lives over extended periods of time, not just in the moment, and can exist in the absence of feeling. For example, ‘the nurse who exhibits compassion will therefore not simply respond with feelings at the time of the patient's suffering, but will care for this patient in an ongoing way that might not always be expressed in terms of feeling’ 15 . Furthermore, evidence of compassion includes displays of character such as virtue leading to concern for the good of others, an awareness of the other's suffering and a desire to act to relieve that suffering 15–19 …”

“…For example, 'the nurse who exhibits compassion will therefore not simply respond with feelings at the time of the patient's suffering, but will care for this patient in an ongoing way that might not always be expressed in terms of feeling'. 15 Furthermore, evidence of compassion includes displays of character such as virtue leading to concern for the good of others, an awareness of the other's suffering and a desire to act to relieve that suffering. [15][16][17][18][19] Central to the relationship between individuals is a need to understand and be understood; furthermore, it forms the foundation on which the nursing relationship is built.…”