Health Inequities and Moral Distress Among Community Health Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The core values of community health nursing practice are rooted in the social determinants of health, health equity and social justice. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, community health nurses (CHNs) witnessed first-hand the impact on individuals in situations of marginalization. This research inquiry explored how health inequities among client populations contributed to experiences of MD among CHNs in Canada during the pandemic. A total of 245 CHNs from across Canada participated in an online survey. Participants reported that during the pandemic individuals living in situations of marginalization were disproportionately impacted. CHNs were unable to provide the necessary health promotion interventions and experienced high levels of moral distress. The negative impact of the pandemic on individuals living in situations of marginalization illuminated the intersecting social and structural inequities that drive negative health outcomes and emphasized the need to adopt an equity focus for current and future pandemic planning, response, and recovery.

Keywords

• Health Inequities
• Social Justice
• Moral Distress
• Community Health Nurses
• COVID-19