“Doing the right thing”: Moral conflicts and ethical issues experienced by military nurses during wartime

Military nurses returning from wars with unresolved moral conflicts are at risk for moral distress. Moral distress has been associated with burnout, dissatisfaction with and leaving the nursing profession, compassion fatigue, and disinterest in the provision of quality patient care. In the interest of preserving the health of military nurses, steps need to be taken to provide resources for helping them prepare for, encounter, and cope with the ethical situations inherent in wartime nursing care.