What Is Resilience?

Resilience is the ability to withstand and recover from difficult situations, including the emotional toll of moral distress. It’s not just about being strong or stoic; it’s about being able to adapt and cope with the challenges that come our way.

Taking our Resilience Test can help you understand your level of resilience and identify areas for improvement.

The Hidden Toll of Moral Distress

Moral distress is a persistent sense of guilt, shame, helplessness, disgust, or even rage that can have a profound impact on a healthcare provider’s well-being. It’s not just a feeling; it’s a symptom of a deeper issue that can affect not only the individual but also the healthcare system as a whole.

A recent study of over 5,700 physicians found that nearly 40% reported high moral distress—more than four times the rate seen in other US workers (Tutty et al., 2026). Emergency medicine physicians and general internists were at especially high risk, with 75% of those with high moral distress also reporting symptoms of burnout, compared to just 31% with low moral distress.

What Causes Moral Distress?

Moral distress can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Forced to provide care that feels futile or ineffective
• Making decisions where all options lead to negative outcomes
• Feeling powerless to act on one’s clinical judgment
• Communication breakdowns with patients and families
• Responsibility for patient advocacy
• Feeling unsupported by one’s own network
• Systemic factors like hierarchy, regulations, staffing shortages, resource constraints, and policies that prevent clinicians from acting in line with their values

The Consequences of Moral Distress

The consequences of moral distress can be severe, including:

• Burnout
• Depression
• PTSD
• Suicidal ideation
• Intention to leave the profession

Building Resilience and Supporting Our Healthcare Providers

So, what can we do to build resilience and support our healthcare providers? Here are a few strategies that have shown promise:

• Improve ethical culture
• Ensure adequate staffing and resources
• Transparent leadership
• Closed-loop feedback systems
• Support for mental health and well-being

The Future of Healthcare

The future of healthcare will depend on our ability to address the root causes of moral distress and build resilience in our healthcare providers. By working together, we can create a more sustainable and compassionate healthcare system that prioritizes the well-being of both patients and providers.