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‘Running Towards the Bullets’: Moral Injury in Critical Care Nursing in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Griffin, Martyn; Hamilton, Peter; Harness, Oonagh; Credland, Nicki; McMurray, Robert

‘Running Towards the Bullets’: Moral Injury in Critical Care Nursing in the COVID-19 Pandemic Thumbnail


Authors

Oonagh Harness

Nicki Credland

Robert McMurray



Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic placed unprecedented strain on healthcare professionals around the globe, particularly those working in intensive care units. It was reported that instances of moral injury – a betrayal of what is ethically right by those in positions of power – were widespread in these organizational settings. In this paper, we explore these emerging findings to ask: What are the experiences and implications of moral injury in critical care nursing during the pandemic? Drawing on 103 interviews with 54 critical care nurses, we offer insights into the experience of moral injury in a workplace experiencing crisis, focusing on (i) unsafe staffing levels, (ii) inadequate equipment, and (iii) inability to provide patients with a dignified death. We provide accounts of the implications of moral injury ranging from debilitating anxiety to post-traumatic stress disorder and sectioning, as well as widespread feelings of anger and guilt leading to an intention to leave the profession.

Citation

Griffin, M., Hamilton, P., Harness, O., Credland, N., & McMurray, R. (2024). ‘Running Towards the Bullets’: Moral Injury in Critical Care Nursing in the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Management Inquiry, 33(2), 184-202. https://doi.org/10.1177/10564926231182566

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date May 22, 2023
Online Publication Date Jun 26, 2023
Publication Date 2024-04
Deposit Date Aug 10, 2023
Publicly Available Date Sep 22, 2023
Journal Journal of Management Inquiry
Print ISSN 1056-4926
Electronic ISSN 1552-6542
Publisher SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 33
Issue 2
Pages 184-202
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/10564926231182566
Keywords well-being, qualitative research, healthcare
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1715010
Related Public URLs https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10293865/

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Copyright Statement
This contribution has been accepted for publication in Journal of Management Inquiry






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