When studies are done related to the moral injury, PTSI, and “burnout” of HCP during this second/third wave, I predict that much of it will revolve around the sensation of forced provision of painful, futile care.

The nurses I have spoken with are pretty near finished with

coding patients, causing pain and suffering with invasive procedures that have 0% chance of benefitting the patient.

I read the study that came out of NY on this issue. It was a different set of causes of moral injury in part because the pandemic was new and we didn’t know what

to expect. This round will be more injurious to healthcare professionals for a litany of reasons, but if I were a betting person, based on what I’m hearing at nursing stations, we will lose a generation of nurses from healthcare because they feel that they were forced to cause

pain and suffering through futile interventions.

I hope I’m wrong. I don’t think I am.

This will need to be studied. More importantly, the moral injury and PTS symptoms will need to be evaluated, supported, and aggressively intervened on to prevent mass exodus from the

bedside.

The healthcare system does not seem to have acknowledged what will be necessary to support HCP. I don’t see hospital systems in this country acknowledging this or their extensive plans to address it in any meaningful way.

Have any of y’all seen good support for

HCP suffering moral injury?? I would love some hopeful stories from colleagues. I need it today.

If your health system is making plans to support its employees emotional well-being in a meaningful way, please share stories