Moral distress: challenges for an autonomous nursing professional practice

• Published in: Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S P Vol. 47; no. 2; pp. 506 - 510
• Main Authors: Barlem, Edison Luiz Devos, Lunardi, Valéria Lerch, Tomaschewski, Jamila Geri, Lunardi, Guilherme Lerch, Lunardi Filho, Wilson Danilo, Schwonke, Camila Rose Guadalupe Barcelos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Universidade de São Paulo, Escola de Enfermagem 01.04.2013; SciELO
• Subjects: Defensa de la salud; Enfermería; Estrés psicológico; Humans; Morals; NURSING; Patient Advocacy; Professional Autonomy; Professional Practice; Práctica professional; Stress, Psychological - etiology; Ética en enfermeira; Estrés psicológico; Ethics, nursing; Stress psychological; Enfermagem; Ética em enfermagem; Health advocacy; Práctica professional; Nursing; Professional practice; Defensa de la salud; Prática profissional; Advocacia em saúde; Enfermería; Estresse psicológico; Ética en enfermeira
• ISSN: 0080-6234; 1980-220X; 0080-6234
• DOI: 10.1590/S0080-62342013000200033

Constantly experiencing limiting situations that hinder a professional practice coherent with its principles - of autonomy and advocacy of users' interests -, and often conditioned to experience moral distress, the nursing profession plays a prominent role in the current health model because it has the characteristic of managing the care rendered to users in a perspective of social inclusion, both in the basic health network and in hospitals. Aiming at carrying out a reflection on the nursing practice and the difficulties present in its work routine, and considering its characteristics as a profession, this article sought to make a reflection between the practice of nursing and the numerous moral challenges imposed by the routine, resulting, in many cases, in a value crisis that can reverberate directly on the quality of the service rendered, and in abandonment of the ideals of advocacy for users.