Did you know that during the peak of COVID-19 in New York City, 67% of frontline healthcare workers reported moderate to high levels of moral injury-related guilt?
In this debut episode of The Science Chick Report, Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett takes a closer look at something we haven’t talked enough about: how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the emotional well-being of healthcare providers. Specifically, she focuses on moral injury—a term originally used in military settings—that helps explain what many frontline workers experienced during the crisis.
Through a review of 36 studies from around the world, Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tacket shares how nurses, physicians, and other care providers felt deep distress when they couldn’t give the care they knew their patients needed. Many described feeling helpless, unsupported, and in some cases, betrayed by their institutions. These aren’t just signs of stress or burnout—they point to something more complex and lasting.
But it’s not all bad news. Dr. Kendall-Tackett also highlights what helped: strong team support, open communication from leadership, and practical resources that made people feel valued. She wraps up the episode by encouraging organizations to reflect on what went wrong, take meaningful action, and commit to supporting their teams—not just in a crisis, but every single day.
This episode is a powerful reminder that behind every hospital badge is a human being—and that caring for healthcare providers is just as essential as caring for the patients they serve.
In This Episode:
[00:00] Introduction
[01:16] Defining moral injury and its origins
[02:21] Applying moral injury to healthcare providers
[03:22] COVID-19 policies and institutional collapse
[04:30] Moral injury in healthcare vs. military
[05:29] Frontline experiences during COVID-19
[06:47] Emotional impact and patient isolation
[07:56] Moral injury in maternity care
[09:07] Prevalence and effects of moral injury
[10:23] Institutional betrayal and burnout
[11:37] International perspectives on betrayal
[12:44] Burnout as a unique outcome in healthcare
[15:10] Resilience and protective factors
[16:17] Organizational lessons and recommendations
[17:32] Individual and organizational healing
[18:33] Conclusion and resources
Notable Quotes:
[01:45] "Moral injury is not a diagnosis yet, but it recognizes that people in combat experience symptoms beyond PTSD, dealing with issues of right and wrong." – Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett
[02:51] "They felt that patient care was severely compromised, and they were witness to it but couldn't do anything to stop it.." – Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett
[08:12] "In extreme cases, staff can feel that they have become instruments of inhumane treatment of women and babies, active perpetrators of psychological and physical harm." – Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett
[11:25] "We got a lot of lip service and no actual action. It was demoralizing and disheartening.s." – Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett
[12:39] “If I die, they don't care. They'll just get somebody else in my shoes tomorrow.”– Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett
[18:44] "Apologize for what happened. That really goes a long way toward repairing relationships and re-establishing trust with your staff and your team." – Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett
Resource and Links
Podcast
The Science Chick Report
Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett
Referenced Studies
Fisher et al. (2022) – NYC frontline moral injury and guilt
Hors et al. – Swiss maternity providers and ethical trauma
Nieuwsma et al. (2022) – Comparison of veterans and healthcare workers
U.S. & Netherlands ICU provider studies
NHS (UK) nurse experiences with systemic betrayal