When caring breeds contempt: The impact of moral emotions on healthcare professionals’ commitment during a pandemic

Abstract

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is a major heath crisis that continues to impact healthcare organizations worldwide. As infection rates surged, there was a global shortage of personal protective equipment, critical medications, ventilators, and hospital beds, meaning that healthcare professionals faced increasingly difficult workplace conditions. In this conceptual study, we argue these situations can lead to healthcare professionals experiencing moral emotions - defined as specific emotions which relate, or occur in response, to the interest or welfare of others - towards their organizations. This paper explores the three moral emotions of contempt, anger and disgust, and their potential influence on healthcare professionals’ workplace commitment in the context of a pandemic. Drawing from the moral emotions and organizational commitment literature, we develop a process model to demonstrate how healthcare professionals’ affective and continuous commitment are likely to decrease while, paradoxically, normative, and professional commitment may become amplified. The possible potential for positive outcomes from negative moral emotions is discussed, followed by theoretical and practical contributions of the model, and finally, directions for future research.

Who is caring for nurses? A qualitative description of psychological influence of COVID-19 pandemic on RNs’ self-efficacy and job satisfaction

“…Similar to this study, it has been shown that staff shortage and the resulting demand to do mandatory overtime contributed to poor patient outcomes, burnout, increased stress, and compassion fatigue among nurses. [12,13,26,38,39] However, resilience and a sense of duty assisted in combating the dissatisfaction experienced, and an overall strong sense of kinship contributed to job satisfaction. Findings confirmed the need for so-called "after care" for nurses by leadership and administrators, which could come in the form of transparent and improved communication as well as new measures for ongoing support.…”

“…[24] The intense emotions nurses experience witnessing the effects of COVID-19 on patients, colleagues, and leadership ambiguity may lead to burnout and dissatisfaction with the profession; this may inspire RNs to leave nursing at a time when global nursing shortages are critical. [23,25,26] Little research pertains to the psychological influence of COVID-19 on Canadian RNs. To understand the psycho-logical influence of COVID-19 on RNs' self-efficacy and job satisfaction, we studied RNs living and working across Canada who had recently started graduate studies at an online university.…”