Moral Courage in Practice: Implications for Patient Safety

This descriptive correlational study examined moral courage in response to a threat to patient safety. A mailed questionnaire was randomly distributed to Midwest perioperative registered nurses. Multiple regression analysis results indicate that the moral courage in perioperative nurses is significantly influenced by education level, certification, peer support, institutional culture and Magnet® designation, fear of reprisal and retaliation, and previous operating room experience. Significant findings clustered influencing factors of fear, previous experience, peer support, and institutional culture. Future research is indicated for supportive nursing management and policy creation promoting moral courage in situations that threaten patient safety in the perioperative area.