Experiences of moral challenges in everyday nursing practice: In light of healthcare professionals’ self-understanding

Abstract

This study has two aims: firstly, to describe and interpret experiences of moral challenges in everyday nursing practice, as expressed in reflection groups, and secondly, to further interpret how healthcare professionals’ self-understanding can bring light to such challenges. Data consisted of eight reflection group conversations with healthcare professionals, and were analysed using a phenomenological hermeneutic approach. Three themes have been formulated: ‘Having to be affected in order to help the patient’, ‘Having to accept that colleagues do not always collaborate’, and ‘Having to endure organizational demands’. The comprehensive understanding highlights that despite healthcare professionals’ struggle with demanding aspects of caring for their patients, they strive to do good. The study concludes that supporting healthcare professionals when they experience moral challenges is important particularly because such challenges seem to involve a challenge to healthcare professionals’ self-understanding, which may ultimately lead to their questioning why they are struggling with demanding situations in caring for the patient.