Introduction
Medicine is an area in which workers need to have a set of certain moral characteristics. Moral courage is the ability to take certain actions, guided by ethical considerations (Kleemola et al., 2020). Difficulties arise when it is necessary to take action in the face of fears about possible negative outcomes. Moral courage involves careful consideration and calculation of all risks. A health administrator must act in accordance with the principle of moral courage, despite the possibility of negative consequences.
The Importance of Exhibiting Moral Courage
A healthcare administrator often has a decisive voice in making decisions that can affect the health and life of the patient. That is why the administrator must show moral courage, despite the consequences. Moral courage is the only way to ethically behave and meet the standards of a medical professional (Numminen et al., 2019). The manifestation of this quality is especially important for health administrators since these professionals must weigh all the risks and make an informed decision. This choice must always be based on ethical principles, and the professional must be prepared to deal with all the consequences of this choice. If the health administrator does not show moral courage, it can jeopardize the functioning of the entire health facility. Acting for personal gain, or ignoring ethical principles, harms patients. Since the main role of the administrator is to maintain good patient care, the display of moral courage is a fundamental feature of professionalism.
The Impact of Showing Moral Courage on a Team of Medical Professionals
A healthcare administrator is a link in the entire team of medical professionals. The level of patient care will depend on the actions of the administrator. That is why the manifestation of moral courage is important for the formation of a common team spirit. If a healthcare administrator demonstrates ethical behavior and is guided by high moral principles, this creates a certain atmosphere in the team. Demonstrating by example the importance of observing moral and ethical standards, the administrator shows the rest of the team what qualities a medical professional should have. Thus, the administrator develops a general collective norm, which the whole team will strive to comply with. In addition, upholding ethics and demonstrating moral courage encourages healthcare professionals to be self-reliant and take responsibility for their own decisions.
If the health administrator does not show proper moral and ethical qualities, the team can become disunited. Without showing a personal example of correct behavior, medical personnel may begin to avoid responsibility or act in their interests. Following the wrong pattern of behavior can lead to emotional burnout. Since the work of doctors is extremely important and responsible, it is necessary to constantly maintain a positive attitude. Without a single leader in the form of an administrator, the general mood will disappear, and the team can wait for unnecessary stress and overwork (Wang & Li, 2019). Tired staff not having a leader with established moral and ethical standards can harm the health of patients.
Conclusion
A health worker must possess a wide range of characteristics to be successful, and moral courage is one of them. This quality is a guarantee that in a stressful situation, a professional will be able to make an informed decision and independently cope with its consequences. Administrators in health care must have this characteristic since they act as a link in the team of medical professionals. If the administrator neglects this quality, teamwork will become impossible, and the risks of emotional burnout will increase. With proper management under the guidance of moral and ethical principles and the proper level of responsibility, patient care will be provided at the highest level.
References
Kleemola, E., Leino-Kilpi, H., & Numminen, O. (2020). Care situations demanding moral courage: content analysis of nurses’ experiences. Nursing ethics, 27(3), 714-725.
Numminen, O., Katajisto, J., & Leino-Kilpi, H. (2019). Development and validation of nurses’ moral courage scale. Nursing ethics, 26(7-8), 2438-2455.
Wang, Y., & Li, H. (2019). Moral leadership and unethical pro-organizational behavior: A moderated mediation model. Frontiers in Psychology, 10(1), 26-40.