A nurse recently told me a story. I am honored that she trusted me enough to tell me. She is a nurse with moral courage who is willing to do the ethically “right” thing, even though it is not easy. With her permission, I get to retell the story here and hope that you will find courage to do the right thing, even when it is difficult. The identities have been disguised to protect the privacy of the individuals in the story.
N typically gets along with most of her colleagues. However, she does not get along with A, one of the other nurses. N believes that A is not engaged in her work, socializing more with her peers than caring for patients. When the two work together, the atmosphere is tense, but the two nurses are able to maintain a professional working relationship.
N accidentally discovered A falsifying a document in a patient’s record. She immediately brought it to the attention of her charge nurse who assured N it would be handled appropriately. After the incident, N naturally had a heightened sense of alertness to A’s interactions with patients. Much to her dismay, a similar incident happened within a few weeks of the first. This time N made sure her nurse manager knew.
Shortly after this, N’s nurse manager mistakenly attributed the report to the known interpersonal difficulties between the two nurses. N knows that other members of the team have concerns about A, but feels like she is the only one sharing concerns. N feels unsupported and disheartened that her motives have been questioned and that the behavior she witnessed from A has been tolerated, particularly when the behavior had direct consequences for patients.
N took time off to consider what to do. After returning to work, she took a chance and told her story to her nurse manager’s supervisor. She felt listened to and believes something will happen, even though she can’t know if the individual is in corrective action because that is private information.
N knows it’s important to continue doing the right thing, even when she doesn’t feel the support of others. N says she will give A the benefit of the doubt, but continue to report behaviors inconsistent with expectations for nurses.
N’s actions exemplify moral courage. She is standing up for patients and professional nursing. I am proud N is a nurse colleague.
One nurse with moral courage is not enough. I hope others follow her lead and report situations like this whenever they happen – even if the report is met with skepticism or doubt. Doing what is right, especially when it is unclear if your actions make a difference, makes the action all that more courageous.
Lucia Wocial, PhD, RN
Clarian Health Nurse Ethicist
To show your courage at Clarian, visit Jobs for Registered Nurses
N typically gets along with most of her colleagues. However, she does not get along with A, one of the other nurses. N believes that A is not engaged in her work, socializing more with her peers than caring for patients. When the two work together, the atmosphere is tense, but the two nurses are able to maintain a professional working relationship.
N accidentally discovered A falsifying a document in a patient’s record. She immediately brought it to the attention of her charge nurse who assured N it would be handled appropriately. After the incident, N naturally had a heightened sense of alertness to A’s interactions with patients. Much to her dismay, a similar incident happened within a few weeks of the first. This time N made sure her nurse manager knew.
Shortly after this, N’s nurse manager mistakenly attributed the report to the known interpersonal difficulties between the two nurses. N knows that other members of the team have concerns about A, but feels like she is the only one sharing concerns. N feels unsupported and disheartened that her motives have been questioned and that the behavior she witnessed from A has been tolerated, particularly when the behavior had direct consequences for patients.
N took time off to consider what to do. After returning to work, she took a chance and told her story to her nurse manager’s supervisor. She felt listened to and believes something will happen, even though she can’t know if the individual is in corrective action because that is private information.
N knows it’s important to continue doing the right thing, even when she doesn’t feel the support of others. N says she will give A the benefit of the doubt, but continue to report behaviors inconsistent with expectations for nurses.
N’s actions exemplify moral courage. She is standing up for patients and professional nursing. I am proud N is a nurse colleague.
One nurse with moral courage is not enough. I hope others follow her lead and report situations like this whenever they happen – even if the report is met with skepticism or doubt. Doing what is right, especially when it is unclear if your actions make a difference, makes the action all that more courageous.
Lucia Wocial, PhD, RN
Clarian Health Nurse Ethicist
To show your courage at Clarian, visit Jobs for Registered Nurses
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