PTSD: National Center for PTSD

Sonya Norman, PhD

Description

Although it is common for health care workers to experience difficult situations at work, at times experiences that evoke challenges to one’s morals and values may cause significant distress. Morally distressing experiences contradict personal or shared values or expectations. Feelings resulting from such experiences can include guilt, shame, intrusive thoughts or images, anger, reduced readiness and, if the person experiences a sense of betrayal, reduced confidence in leaders or the organization. At times, such distress can lead to lasting cognitive, behavioral, relational, or spiritual changes termed moral injury.

This online course shares strategies that mental health and other health care providers can use to reduce the potential for lasting distress resulting from morally difficult situations for themselves and in their roles as colleagues and leaders.

Goals and Objectives

• Describe at least 2 strategies that mental health and other health care providers can use to reduce the potential for lasting moral distress
• Define at least 2 morally distressing experiences
• Identify at least 2 common feelings and behaviors associated with moral distress