Recent research shows that silence may actually kill. Fewer than one in 10 people who work in health care say something when they observe concerning behavior, even when the behavior may lead to serious consequences for patients.
Nurses have dual loyalties and sometimes conflicting obligations that make them vulnerable to losing their moral compass in certain circumstances. When people accept the role and responsibility of being a nurse, they accept an obligation to do good for others. When nurses have knowledge of a potential harm to a patient and fail to report it, they contribute to the harm.
When I hear people grapple with the decision whether to report something, their difficulty is often rooted in concerns about personal relationships. They think highly of another person. Maybe they believe there was no malicious intent in the harmful behavior. Maybe they don’t want to get yelled at, or they don’t have confidence anything will be done.
Saying nothing makes the problem personal. Speaking up is the professional way to deal with it. How do you decide when to speak up?
Silence has a hidden cost. It is golden only when actions speak louder than words. Speak up when you see a problem. Do it for your patients; they deserve protection. Do it for your colleagues; they don’t want to cause harm. Do it for yourself; follow your true moral compass.
Lucia D. Wocial, PhD, RN
Clarian Health Nurse Ethicist
To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Jobs for Registered Nurses.
Nurses have dual loyalties and sometimes conflicting obligations that make them vulnerable to losing their moral compass in certain circumstances. When people accept the role and responsibility of being a nurse, they accept an obligation to do good for others. When nurses have knowledge of a potential harm to a patient and fail to report it, they contribute to the harm.
When I hear people grapple with the decision whether to report something, their difficulty is often rooted in concerns about personal relationships. They think highly of another person. Maybe they believe there was no malicious intent in the harmful behavior. Maybe they don’t want to get yelled at, or they don’t have confidence anything will be done.
Saying nothing makes the problem personal. Speaking up is the professional way to deal with it. How do you decide when to speak up?
- Is the situation serious, and has it created or might it lead to serious harm?
- Do you have all the essential information?
- Will speaking up serve a useful purpose?
Silence has a hidden cost. It is golden only when actions speak louder than words. Speak up when you see a problem. Do it for your patients; they deserve protection. Do it for your colleagues; they don’t want to cause harm. Do it for yourself; follow your true moral compass.
Lucia D. Wocial, PhD, RN
Clarian Health Nurse Ethicist
To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Jobs for Registered Nurses.
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