Social Workers' Experience of Moral Distress

According to Jameton (1985), “moral distress arises when one knows the right thing to do, but institutional constraints make it nearly impossible to pursue the right course of action” (as cited in Pendry, 2007, p.1). The issue of nurses and moral distress has been studied extensively; however, little attention has been paid to social workers’ experience of moral distress. The main objectives of this qualitative descriptive research were to explore whether ten health care social workers experienced moral distress and, if so, what were the causes and effects of such moral distress. The supports they use to deal with such distress were also explored. The participants voiced that they experience moral distress from a variety of sources and that the effects of such distress can result in exhaustion, apathy towards patients, and social workers leaving their positions. The results of this research are discussed and suggestions for further research and practice are presented.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MSc)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Medical Science

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Graduate Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2016

Author dc:creator

• Jaskela, Shannon

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Mitchell, Ian

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Page, Stacey
• Guichon, Juliet

• Social Work
• Biophysics--Medical

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/27819

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:11023/3387