‘’Dignity is concerned with how people feel, think and behave in relation to the worth or value of themselves and others. To treat someone with dignity is to treat them as being of worth, in a way that is respectful of them as valued individuals’’ (nhs.uk)
When a nurse is aware of the dignity of patients, the patients feel more at ease, therefore able to make more informed decisions without feeling exposed, embarrassed or ashamed. The NHS states that in the healthcare system, all people regardless of health status should be provided with dignified care even after death. The key elements of the NHS constitution is to include 'respect and dignity'. One of the nursing values that are stated through An Bord Altranais is that ' Nursing care should be delivered in a way that respects the uniqueness and dignity of each patient/client regardless of culture or religion'( An Bord Altranais). We have a role to care with compassion, kindness and empathy to each person’s pain and suffering. We do our best to try and relieve this pain as best we can.
One of our roles, is to provide dignified care. Providing dignified care can be as simple as making eye contact with a patient, to providing privacy and minimum bodily exposure during any procedure. Unfortunately ‘’previous research identified that patients who are ignored or disregarded by healthcare staff experience a loss of dignity ‘’. (Elison et al 2008, Baille 2009, Jacob 2009). Patients dignity can be threatened by things as simple as leaving a door/curtain open during a procedure to the type of ward they are in for example a mixed sex ward. Promoting dignity is a very important aspect of nursing care in my opinion. However unfortunately due to the lack of staff in hospital nowadays dignit...
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... Nursing Times. Available at: http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/childrens-nursing/using-the-roper-logan-and-tierney-model-in-a-neonatal-icu/199604.article. [Accessed 22 March 2014]
• Roper-Logan-Tierney Model for nursing Based on a Model of Living- Nursing Theory 2014. Roper-Logan-Tierney Model for nursing Based on a Model of Living- Nursing Theory. [ONLINE] available at; http://www.nursing-theory.org/theories-and-models/roper-model-based-on-a-model-of-living.php. [Accessed 22March 2014]
• Irish Nursing Board. An Bord Altranais 2014.Irish nursing board [online]. http://www.nursingboard.ie/scope/scope2/values1/3/14
• Dignity in care for patients- ULHT website. http://www.ulh.nhs.uk/for-patients/dignity-in-care/default.asp
• Humanity respect and dignity/practice/nursingtimes/2014. http://nursingtimes.net/nursingpractice/clincalzones
Nurses everywhere face problems and challenges in practice. Most of the challenges occur due to a struggle with the use of ethical principles in patient care. Ethical principles are “basic and obvious moral truths that guide deliberation and action,” (Burkhardt, Nathaniel, 2014). Ethical principles that are used in nursing practice include autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, veracity, confidentiality, justice, and fidelity. These challenges not only affect them, but the quality of care they provide as well. According to the article, some of the most frequently occurring and most stressful ethical issues were protecting patient rights, autonomy and informed consent to treatment, staffing problems, advanced care planning, and surrogate decision making (Ulrich et. al, 2013). The ethical issue of inadequate staffing conflicts with the principle of non-maleficence.
The first provision of the American Nurses Association’s (ANA) “Code of Ethics” states, “ The nurse, in all professional relationships, practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth and uniqueness of every individual, unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of health problems.” The second provision states, “The nurse’s primary commitment is the patient, whether the patient is an individual, family, group, or community” (Fowler, 2010). As nurses we need to respect the autonomy and allow for the patient to express their choices and concerns. We also need to provide them with support by giving them knowledge and understanding so they
According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), (2010) “the nurse promotes, advocates for and strives to protect the health, safety and rights of the patient” (p. 6). Nursing responsibilities should be acted upon at the highest standard and must be based on legal and ethical obligations. Healthcare provider’s perception and judgment of the patient’s well being, as well as taking into account the rights of the patient in every action, is one of the key elements in nursing practice. International Council of Nurses (ICN) (2006) states “The nurse at all times maintains standards of personal conduct which reflect well on the profession and enhance public confidence” (p. 3).
Poor care does not only result in bad press and public perception but also break the trust between the patient and nurse. Utilising the theoretical framework developed by Todres et all (2009) which explores eight central aspects of what it is to be human. Todres et al (2009). This model can be used to improve nursing care. Referring to the term ‘being treated as human beings’ not being treated as a number or object.
Although nursing is universally practiced, not all nurses values and morals are the same. Nurses and nursing students are usually put in situations where they must operate within an ethical structure which is either unfamiliar to their cultural criterion or those of the patients for whom they are taking care of. The most prominent values and morals of nurses are based on human dignity and benevolence. Human dignity is the main component that branches off into other values under caring for health and well-being. Trust, integrity, autonomy, and privacy are one of the many sub-values that fall under human dignity. It is important for the nurses to respect and understand the culture and beliefs of the patient without being judgmental or confrontational. The wellbeing of the patient is priority and so the nurses must focus on gaining the patients trust first by tending to their needs and exhibiting
There are several professional values that a nurse must possess altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, and social justices are among these. Altruism is being concerned for the well-being and welfare of others; this includes their patients and colleagues. This is demonstrated daily through understanding cultural differences, considering the perspectives of others and mentoring others
This is one of the values that is of the utmost importance when being a nurse. We must have compassion for our patients. We as nurses will make an impact every single day in the lives of people in our community. We need to realize that we are the voice of the voiceless and the advocates for those who cannot advocate for themselves. You realize that even by helping one person, you are making a difference and are making the world a better place one patient at a time. Some of us may enter the field and some of us may be continuing on in our education, but we all share one thing in common, we are all nurses and we all made
My knowledge about the concept of privacy and dignity and its importance to health care and the benefit to service users has increased, however I will also be conducting more research on privacy and dignity in relation to patient care.
In order for nurses to practice ethically they must understand the meaning behind each professional value. The first value is human dignity. With each patient we encounter we must show them respect as individuals. It does not matter what the medical condition is, race, ethnicity, culture, religion or gender of the individual. The dignity of a person must be protected. As nurses we must respect the uniqueness of each individual we care for, as this is a fundamental right of all humans. A person with dignity feels a sense of self-worth and as nurses we must do our best to help our patients maintain that feeling of worthiness.
Dignity and respect for patients is important in adult nursing because without it, it dehumanises them, and creates opportunities for abuse and ill treatment to occur. Lack of dignity and respect can also cause emotional problems for patients, as they are already in a vulnerable state.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN, 2009) defines dignity as treating someone as you or your family would want to be treated, when they are feeling vulnerable. According to ( Matiti & Baillie,2011) in modern world the word dignity has lost its meaning, whether it is intentionally or unintentionally, nurses have become very mechanical, trying to give care for dummies rather than human beings, who have emotions, feelings and self-respect, and not realising what impact patients will have when nurses show this kind of attitude. Patient centred care is vital for all nurses, without, discriminating against colour, gender, race, and religious beliefs. Following the code of conduct which is expected of the nurse, working according to the needs of the patients, being a good listener and respecting them. When the nurse shows dignity and respect, she/he tends to develop a therapeutic relationship with patient which in turn results in good health and rehabilitation (NMC, 2008).
One of the goals of nursing is to respect the human rights, values and costumes of a patient and his or her family and with the community as a whole. The International Council of Nurses states that nursing practice can be defined generally as a dynamic, caring, helping relationship in which the nurse assists the client to achieve and maintain optimal health. As health care providers, we have some fundamental responsibilities such as to promote health, to prevent illnes...
The four fundamental nursing responsibilities of promoting health, preventing illness, optimizing health and alleviating the ill are represented in the code of ethics. (Arnold & Boggs, 2016) One can say that the code of ethics are rules that a nurse needs to follow in order to effectively communicate and protect the patients. The American Nurse Association provided the code of ethics to guide nurses to ensure that patient’s care, safety, rights and health are well cared for and well managed. Models like Utilitarian, deontological, and the human rights-based all contribute in answering dilemmas that can arise with a patient. Thus, explaining what some of the code of ethics are, and how the code of ethics influence our responsibilities as a nurse will impact the overall care of the
“The provision of good care not only means the provision of technologically competent care but also care that respects the patient’s beliefs, feelings, and wishes, as well as those of their family and significant others” (Williams & Hopper, 2015). From providing care, the staff will be able to grasp a holistic view for the patients and their families to critically think about the patient care plan and avoid harmful or undesirable results. A research stated: “the principle of beneficence, imploring us to do good and to prevent harm” (Lang, Dupree et al., 2016). Through the definition of maleficence to respect the preferences of the patients and their families, this will help the staff to give quality patient cares. Furthermore, the nursing principle of beneficence will support both patients and staff wellness from the establishment of rapport between staff and patients towards an ideal health
Chochinov, H.M 2007: 187. Dignity and the essence of medicine: the A, B, C, and D of dignity conserving care. BMJ: 185-187