Inside the Hive
The Official Podcast of HIVENurse!
HIVENurse was co-founded by practicing nurses who understand the realities of the profession. Alongside faculty, mentors, and advisors, we’re building a platform shaped by nurses, for nurses.
Nurses are navigating burnout, staffing strain, and professional isolation. Traditional CE often feels like a checkbox — disconnected from real practice or growth. HIVENurse changes that by bringing professional development + authentic community together in one place.
- Mission: To empower every nurse with meaningful professional development and authentic community connection that advance growth, well-being, and practice.
- Vision: To be the Hive where nurses worldwide come together to learn, lead, and thrive — shaping the future of nursing through knowledge, connection, and shared purpose.
Inside the Hive
Beyond Burnout: Understanding the Moral Injury Crisis in Nursing
You entered nursing with a vow to heal, to advocate, and to provide the best care. But what happens when the system prevents you from keeping that vow? What happens when you're forced to act, witness, or fail to prevent something that violates your deepest ethical beliefs?
This week, we take on a conversation that is often confused with burnout but is far more profound: Moral Injury. It's not about being tired; it's about a deep soul wound—the lasting psychological and spiritual distress that comes from feeling like you've betrayed your core values.
In this crucial episode, we will:
- Clearly define Moral Injury and distinguish it from the more familiar concept of moral distress and burnout, shifting the conversation from individual weakness to systemic failure.
- Explore the common sources of moral injury in nursing, from staffing shortages and resource limitations to experiencing betrayal by trusted leadership.
- Discuss the severe impact of this trauma on a nurse's mental health, including feelings of intense guilt, shame, and isolation, and its link to anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
- Offer pathways for healing and advocate for the organizational change necessary to protect the conscience of the healthcare professional.
It's time to name this pain so we can begin to address it. Your conscience is a vital sign of your humanity and your profession—it deserves to be protected and healed.
Join us as we shine a light on the unseen trauma of the bedside and explore how nurses can begin to recover their moral compass and professional spirit.
