RESPONDER project (Responding to ethical issues during the COVID-19 pandemic: operationalising nurses insights to develop ethical and moral resilience)

Abstract

Nurses are at the frontline of responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, demanding constant adaptation and innovation in care conditions. Ethical aspects of health care are often neglected in public policies in these scenarios. Despite research showing the benefit of moral resilience for the health and well-being of professionals, this concept still lacks in-depth explanations. Therefore, the objectives of this study, composed of international researchers, will be: (1) To understand how nurses develop and sustain moral resilience in response to ethical challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) Determine individual, interprofessional, organizational and technological strategies that support ethical decision-making and action in response to ethical challenges; (3) Develop a digital educational resource to implement moral resilience strategies in light of the Social Learning Theory; (4) Examine the potential and limits of the digital educational resource for the development of moral resilience, mental health and well-being of nursing professionals; and (5) Disseminate digital educational resources for developing moral resilience with nurses in response to ethical challenges during emergencies and/or global health crises. It is a study of a qualitative nature and supported by an appreciative investigation. A comprehensive literature review (step 1) will be carried out, together with data collection by two methods: a descriptive survey with open-ended answers (step 2) and in-depth interviews (step 3). After interpretive analysis of the data, researchers will develop a series of digital educational resources, within a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), based on scientific evidence that support moral resilience strategies for nursing professionals (step 4). This project, led by nurses on an international team, will generate evidence-based strategies to develop and maintain moral resilience in the nursing workforce during emergencies and/or global health crises and will serve as the foundation for creating digital educational resources, which will be disseminated through a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). (AU)