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Injurious Memories from the COVID-19 Frontline: The Impact of Episodic Memories of Self- and Other-Potentially Morally Injurious Events on Romanian Nurses’ Burnout, Turnover Intentions and Basic Need Satisfaction

Author

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  • Mihaela Alexandra Gherman

    (Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Str. Toma Cozma 3, 700554 Iasi, Romania)

  • Laura Arhiri

    (Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Str. Toma Cozma 3, 700554 Iasi, Romania)

  • Andrei Corneliu Holman

    (Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Str. Toma Cozma 3, 700554 Iasi, Romania)

  • Camelia Soponaru

    (Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Str. Toma Cozma 3, 700554 Iasi, Romania)

Abstract

Nurses have been frequently exposed to Potentially Morally Injurious Events (PMIEs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to resource scarcity, they both perpetrated (self-PMIEs) and passively witnessed (other-PMIEs) moral transgressions toward the patients, severely violating their moral values. Our study investigated the impact of self- and other-PMIEs on work outcomes by exploring nurses’ episodic memories of these events and the basic psychological need thwarting associated with them. Using a quasi-experimental design, on a convenience sample of 463 Romanian nurses, we found that PMIEs memories were uniquely associated with burnout and turnover intentions, after controlling for socio-demographic characteristics, general basic psychological need satisfaction at work and other phenomenological characteristics. Both self- and other-PMIEs memories were need thwarting, with autonomy and competence mediating their differential impact on burnout, and with relatedness—on turnover intentions. Our findings emphasize the need for organizational moral repair practices, which should include enhancing nurses’ feelings of autonomy, relatedness and competence. Psychological counseling and psychotherapy should be provided to nurses to prevent their episodic memories of PMIEs to be (fully) integrated in autobiographical knowledge, because this integration could have severe consequences on their psycho-social function and occupational health, as well as on the organizational climate in healthcare institutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Mihaela Alexandra Gherman & Laura Arhiri & Andrei Corneliu Holman & Camelia Soponaru, 2022. "Injurious Memories from the COVID-19 Frontline: The Impact of Episodic Memories of Self- and Other-Potentially Morally Injurious Events on Romanian Nurses’ Burnout, Turnover Intentions and Basic Need ," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-25, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:15:p:9604-:d:880288
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Young-Jae Kim & So-Young Lee & Jeong-Hyung Cho, 2020. "A Study on the Job Retention Intention of Nurses Based on Social Support in the COVID-19 Situation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-10, September.
    2. Carole Pélissier & Barbara Charbotel & Jean Baptiste Fassier & Emmanuel Fort & Luc Fontana, 2018. "Nurses’ Occupational and Medical Risks Factors of Leaving the Profession in Nursing Homes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-14, August.
    3. Mihai Popescu & Oana Mara Ştefan & Mihai Ştefan & Liana Văleanu & Dana Tomescu, 2022. "ICU-Associated Costs during the Fourth Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Tertiary Hospital in a Low-Vaccinated Eastern European Country," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-11, February.
    4. Mihaela Alexandra Gherman & Laura Arhiri & Andrei Corneliu Holman & Camelia Soponaru, 2022. "The Moral Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Nurses’ Burnout, Work Satisfaction and Adaptive Work Performance: The Role of Autobiographical Memories of Potentially Morally Injurious Events and Basic P," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-22, June.
    5. Haight, Wendy & Sugrue, Erin & Calhoun, Molly & Black, James, 2017. "Everyday coping with moral injury: The perspectives of professionals and parents involved with child protection services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 108-121.
    6. Priya-Lena Riedel & Alexander Kreh & Vanessa Kulcar & Angela Lieber & Barbara Juen, 2022. "A Scoping Review of Moral Stressors, Moral Distress and Moral Injury in Healthcare Workers during COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-20, February.
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    1. Na Li & Lichuan Zhang & Xuejing Li & Qian Lu, 2022. "Moderated Role of Social Support in the Relationship between Job Strain, Burnout, and Organizational Commitment among Operating Room Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-11, August.

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