What is moral integrity?
Moral integrity is a complicated notion which includes such phenomena as personal morality, societal morality and group morality. An individual’s personal integrity is a combination of these phenomena (Morrison, 2009).
Moral integrity affects choices and decisions made. Thus, people develop own moral values. Individuals also tend to impose certain duties, i.e. people expect others act in certain ways. Apart from personal morality, people follow certain conventions existing in the society. These conventions have been developed throughout decades and centuries. These conventions are based on cultural peculiarities, political economic traits of the country and even geographical peculiarities of the area.
Finally, there are moral conventions developed by certain groups, e.g. health care professionals. Members of these groups have to comply with the rules accepted. Thus, moral integrity is a combination of the three types of morality. It is also necessary to note that moral integrity also includes the way people act, i.e. make decisions. Moral integrity is not the way people think only, but it is also the way they act.
What temptations will you face in choosing moral integrity as a basis for your professional actions?
Health care professionals enjoy respect in the society. Position of a health care professional is also associated with certain privileges. Even though health care professionals may choose moral integrity as the basis for their actions, their position is still associated with certain temptations. For instance, health care professionals are often exposed to suffering and lots of mistakes made by people. This can make the former more hard-hearted and less moral. This may make people cross their bottom line and start tolerating quite immoral actions.
Furthermore, health care professionals also enjoy high level of authority. This may lead to some violations. It is really tempting to make people do some things (pay more, accept options which are not thoroughly considered, etc.) as they trust health care professionals and rely on their viewpoints.
Of course, such kind of violation leads to immoral behavior. As a result, the leader may create unhealthy atmosphere in the organization. Admittedly, immoral behavior of one of the members of the organization often leads to immoral actions of other people within the organization.
What is the best way for you to maintain your moral integrity?
There are several ways to maintain one’s moral integrity. First, it is important to identify one’s moral bottom line (Morrison, 2009). Every individual should have specific moral codes and follow them, without exceptions. It is impossible to adjust one’s code to each situation.
There should be a bottom line which can never be crossed. It is also crucial to choose the organization where employees follow similar moral conventions (Morrison, 2009). In other words, it is important to evaluate group morality within the organization and compare it with own moral integrity. If an individual’s bottom line may somehow be crossed in an organization, the individual should avoid working there.
Besides, it can be helpful to have a moral diary where all major decision and actions made are highlighted (Morrison, 2009). The individual may trace his/her behavior. It will be easy to identify whether there is a risk of crossing the bottom line. Finally, it is also a good idea to have a moral mentor, i.e. a person who can give some advice. Health care professionals have to make a variety of decisions. Many of these decisions are really hard. A mentor can help handle difficult problems and maintain moral integrity.
Reference List
Morrison, E.E. (2009). Ethics in health administration: A practical approach for decision makers. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.