Nurse Strong: Recognizing and Mitigating Moral Distress

Webinar Summary

Of all the threats to nurse well-being, moral distress may be one of the least understood – and one of the most detrimental. It is distinct from other forms of distress experienced by nurses, such as burnout and compassion fatigue, and it is especially prevalent among nurses caring for critically ill patients and their families. And, despite what we may believe, acknowledging this distress is a testament to our strength, not our weakness.

Whether you are experiencing moral distress yourself or want to support someone else who is, this webinar will help you recognize and manage the condition. Using current literature as a guide, the presenters will educate you on the definition, causes and symptoms of moral distress. Equally important, they will provide concrete strategies to mitigate moral distress. Their presentation includes a detailed exploration of AACN’s moral distress tool.

Objectives

Recognize moral distress when it occurs.
Understand how individual attributes and organizational characteristics impact the development of moral distress.
Identify strategies to address and mitigate moral distress.

Presenters

Marian S Altman, PhD,RN,CCRN-K,CNS-BC

Marian Altman is a clinical practice specialist at the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), where she serves as lead faculty for the AACN Clinical Scene Investigator (CSI) Academy, a nurse innovation and leadership development program. Altman’s 37-year nursing career encompasses roles as both a direct care and advanced practice nurse, as well as earning her PhD in nursing in 2017. She received the Borlick Nursing Research Award for her work examining moral distress in critical care nurses, lectures nationally on a broad range of healthcare topics, and has published in peer-reviewed journals and nursing textbooks.

Sarah Delgado, RN,MSN,ACNP-BC

Sarah Delgado is a clinical practice specialist at the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), working with the organization’s Strategic Advocacy Team to promote a healthy work environment for nurses. Delgado has over 25 years of experience as a nurse, including working as an acute care nurse practitioner and nursing faculty member in positions at PIH Health and the University of Virginia/UVA Health System. She has published and presented on a variety of topics including moral distress and infection control, and has co-edited books on both critical care and progressive care nursing.

Continuing Education Disclosure Statement

Successful Completion

Learners must attend/view/read the entire activity and complete the associated evaluation to be awarded the contact hours or CERP. No partial credit will be awarded.

Disclosure

This activity has been reviewed by the Nurse Planner. It has been determined that the material presented here shows no bias. No conflicts of interest have been identified for any individual with the ability to influence the content of this activity. Accreditation refers to recognition of continuing education only and does not imply AACN or ANCC approval or endorsement of any commercial products discussed or displayed in conjunction with this educational activity.

Accreditation

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's (ANCC's) Commission on Accreditation, ANCC Provider Number 0012. AACN has been approved as a provider of continuing education in nursing by the California State Board of Nursing (CBRN), California Provider number CEP 1036. This activity is approved for 1.00 contact hours.

AACN programming meets the standards for most states that require mandatory continuing education contact hours for license and/or certification renewal. AACN recommends consulting with your state board of nursing or credentialing organization before submitting CE to fulfill continuing education requirements.

Refund Policy

Continuing Education Activities are nonrefundable.