Re-Scripting Care

In this episode, Monica shares how the nurses’ stories consistently assigned value and meaning to relational caregiving activities they performed (e.g., talking with families, providing emotional support), which involved them being in close physical proximity to patients and their families. Danica and Monica reflect on and discuss two stories to illustrate situations where the nurses were unable to enact what they viewed as their moral responsibilities to patients and families because they were stretched thin by competing caregiving tasks and priorities. 

Content Warnings 

(33:12 – 34:23): Story shared of infant needing transplant

(38:00 – 38:42): Story shared of nurse supporting family as child was dying

References 

(25:00): Elizabeth Peter & Joan Liaschenko on ‘moral distress’ 

Peter, E., & Liaschenko, J. (2004). Perils of proximity: a spatiotemporal analysis of moral distress and moral ambiguity. Nursing Inquiry, 11(4), 218-225. 

Peter, E., & Liaschenko, J. (2013). Moral Distress Reexamined: A Feminist Interpretation of Nurses' Identities, Relationships, and Responsibilities. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 10(3). DOI: 10.1007/s11673-013-9456-5 

(27:53): Ruth Malone on ‘physical proximity' 

Malone, R. E. (2003). Distal nursing. Social Science & Medicine, 56(11), 2317-2326.