Addressing Moral Distress in Correctional Nursing: A Call to Action

Abstract

In 1984, Jameton defined moral distress in nursing practice as the negative experience that occurs “…when one knows the right thing to do, but institutional constraints make it nearly impossible to pursue…” (p. 6). Little research has been done about the magnitude and impact of moral distress among nurses working in correctional settings. All correctional nurses (CNs) will experience some form of moral distress during their careers. Consequences include burnout syndrome, blurred professional boundaries, and impaired ethical reasoning. There is a need for strong CN leaders who model professional behavior and provide orientation and mentoring for new CNs. A research agenda is needed to inform strong orientation and continuing education programs to introduce the concept of moral distress and related resources to CNs and to assist them in preventing or mitigating the consequences of moral distress.