A Study of the Well-Being of Ohio Nurses Who Have Cared for Patients During COVID-19
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 7, 2021
Nurses are up against major obstacles every day: workplace violence; burnout; unsafe staffing; COVID-19; and other traumatic events. Many of these have a lasting impact that go beyond the bedside, leading to moral injury within the profession. Moral injury, often described as a consequence of continual acts that go against oneβs morality, is a phenomenon sweeping the profession, which is why the Ohio Nurses Foundation announced today the winners of a $100,000 award to support important research on moral injury in nursing. The research will be conducted by a team of researchers spanning multiple universities.
βAfter months of preparation, the Ohio Nurses Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the $100,000 Moral Injury Research Award. This exemplary team of researchers includes Joyce J. Fitzpatrick, PhD, MBA, RN, FAAN, FNAP, Case ΒιΆΉΣ³», Minjin Kim, Ph.D., RN, University of Cincinnati, Sharon Tucker, PhD, APRN-CNS, PMHCNS-BC, NC-BC, FNAP, FAAN, The Ohio State University, DΓ³nal OβMathΓΊna, B.Sc.(Pharm), MA, PhD, The Ohio State University, Jin Jun, PhD, RN, The Ohio State University, and Grant A. Pignatiello, PhD, RN, Case ΒιΆΉΣ³». When selecting the research group, it was important to the Foundation for the research team to be from Ohio and focused on how registered nurses in all practice settings across the state are experiencing moral injury, especially after Covid-19," said Dr. Susan Stocker, chair of the Ohio Nurses Foundation.
The research team, who call themselves βOhioβs Moral Injury Team,β are composed primarily of registered nurse investigators prepared at the doctoral level. The research will focus on how registered nurses in all practice settings across the state of Ohio are experiencing moral injury in the workplace.
βNursing is a hazardous occupation. Nursesβ health and well-being have been negatively affected by the work environment and their personal lives for decades. Known to be self-sacrificing, nursesβ put their own needs last, which has been clearly demonstrated during the Covid-19 pandemic. Moral injury is one outcome of the self-sacrificing that deeply impacts nursesβ well-being,β explained Dr. Sharon Tucker, Ohio State University, member of the research team.
The research will not only collect data on moral injury in nursing, but will also encourage nurses to share their story. As Dr. Joyce Fitzpatrick, of Case Western University explained, βNarrative Nursing is a unique intervention that empowers nurses to share their collective experiences, building a strong professional bond among participants. We will use this intervention to help Ohio nurses who cared for patients and families during the COVID-19 pandemic toward the goal of enhancing nurses' wellbeing and resilience.β
Dr. Minjin Kim, University of Cincinnati, continued, βNarrative nursing is a promising approach to foster healing and well-being of nurses who suffered mental stress and trauma during the COVID-19 pandemic. We believe our intervention can create cohesion, solidarity, and resilience by allowing nurses to share and reflect their individual experiences during the pandemic while engaging in other nursesβ collective struggles.β
If you are an Ohio registered nurse and would like to participate in the study, please contact Michelle Donovan, mdonovan@ohnurses.org, Ohio Nurses Foundation.
To listen to todayβs announcement on the . The award announcement begins at the 32:45 minute mark.
###
Michelle Donovan, Communications and Development Coordinator
Ohio Nurses Association
614-668-9927 | mdonovan@ohnurses.org
The Ohio Nurses Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Ohio Nurses Association, is a 501(c)(3) charity founded in 2002. ONFβs mission is to provide funding to advance nursing as a learned profession through education, research, and scholarship.