Moral resilience through harmonised connectedness in intensive care nursing: a grounded theory study

Objectives To examine intensive care nurses' main concerns in respect of ethical practice, and to investigate how nurses continue to practise in an ethical way despite challenges in order to offer a conceptualisation of moral resilience. Research methodology/design This qualitative study followed Glaser and Strauss' version of grounded theory. The study was reviewed, and approved, by research ethics committees in Switzerland and in England. Main outcome measures Data consisted of field notes and in-depth interviews with 16 nurses working in intensive care in Switzerland and memos developed during the analysis. Data analysis followed the constant comparative method. This study took place between 2014 and 2017. Findings This study identified new understanding in how intensive care nurses manage their concerns and challenges regarding moral practice. The main category for moral resilience is harmonising connectedness, which represents intensive care nurses' main concern with regard to their moral life, and at the same time, represents the pattern of behaviour in their social interactions and what they yearn for. Conclusions This study offers new insight into intensive care nurses' moral practice, moral resilience and strategies nurses use to achieve moral wellbeing.