Strategies Necessary for Moral Courage

Moral courage involves the willingness to speak out and do that which is right in the face of forces that would lead a person to act in some other way. In this article the author discusses the CODE acronym she has created to help nurses remember key components for actualizing moral courage. After introducing the virtue of moral courage, the author presents strategies to operationalize moral courage, organizing the discussion around the CODE acronym. “C” represents the courage (moral courage), the willingness to overcome fear and stand up for core values. The “O” reminds nurses of their obligation to adhere to the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Nurses, which delineates nurses’ ethical responsibilities in a variety of circumstances. The “D” is for danger management, with a focus on developing cognitive strategies and overcoming risk aversion. Because moral courage is essentially an act, the “E” reflects the expression and action component. Assertiveness and negotiation strategies are presented along with clinical examples.