In the video shown, it highlighted different issues and themes that relates to the nursing care. One theme evident that I found interesting and very important was the respect and maintenance of dignity of patients. Recently, respect for and the dignity of patients are both now highly considered globally since it has been discovered that many nurses neglect both of these aspects in the administration of nursing care (Dennis & Allen, 2009). First of all, respect for patients refers to how nurses treat a person with value, and needs as a person and not as an object (Wida ̈ng, 2002). On the other hand, integrity stands for the self-respect and self-worth of a person based on how others act and feel toward them. It also includes the concept of a person’s wholeness, which includes one’s inclination and moral ethics (Meyer, 2009). Consequently, it is impossible to uphold one’s dignity when nurses do not respect them as both terms work hand in hand (Betchel, 2011). Furthermore, respect and the maintenance of a patient’s dignity is essential for a better health outcome (Stern, 2006). Moreover, Beauchamp (as cited by Wida ̈ng, 2002) acknowledged that respect and integrity are both significant characteristics in ethical reasoning and the provision of nursing care. In this essay, the importance of the theme, which is the respect and maintenance of dignity of patients, to the patient care, the patient’s health outcome, and to the nurse will be discussed.
Maintaining the patient’s dignity and respecting them is one the duties and moral principles, which nurses have to uphold to provide quality holistic nursing care. To achieve this, there are several factors that nurses should be aware of, such as changing the environment that is comfortable a...
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In conclusion, respecting a patient when doing nursing care and maintaining their dignity is very important as it affects their health outcomes and help maintain and improve the standards and principles of nursing practice. Furthermore, the ANMC has formulated domains, specifically the Professional Practice domain, which guides nurses in their practice to provide holistic and quality nursing care that is done with respect and dignity. As a future registered nurse, I know that I need to be aware of this issue so that I can be considered a competent nurse. To do this, I need to be sensitive in carrying out my nursing interventions adequately and respectfully so that I can help maintain their dignities. Finally, I believe that the proper way to care for patients with respect and dignity is to take care of them as I would like to be taken care of.
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
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 Provision 1, “The principle of respect for persons extends to all individuals with whom the nurse interacts. The nurse maintains compassionate and caring relationships with colleagues and others
The most prominent resource that emphasizes nursing professionalism is an article from the Kentucky Nurses. The author Teresa Huber thoroughly demonstrates the idea behind nursing professionalism and the importance of being a skilled nurse. The author states that professionalism is “respect for human dignity and to never discriminate against patients” (Huber 2015). Professionalism isn’t purely based on appearance but also on the attitude of the nurse and the amount of respect a nurse shows their patients. It’s important for a nurse to never judge a patient and never make a patient feel like they are in the wrong, doing so demonstrates an inability to care for the patient in a respectful manner. Also demonstrating disrespect to a patient’s wishes and concerns will only worsen the rapport the nurse must make with the patient. The author also expresses that “We are accountable for ourselves” (Huber 2015, p.1) that nurses must take responsibility for their actions and make sure that they are giving the best quality care that they can give. If a nurse doesn’t perform to the best of their capability the nurse is demonstrating a lack of motivation and determination. This article reinforces core beliefs on nursing professionalism because it helps explain that a nurse’s attitude and treatment toward the patient is essential to perform their
To be involved in the nursing profession, you must abide by the Code of Ethics provided for nurses. Nurses must hold the good of the patient as its most important value; this is the ultimate goal in the nursing profession. They must treat each patient as an individual, care for them with respe...
Healthcare provider’s perception and judgment in the patient’s well being as well as taking into account the right 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). Furthermore, nursing action guided by theory and principles of moral and legal rights complements excellent nursing care. Nurse’s awareness in moral and legal codes helps them control the complicated scenario encountered and direct the nurses in the best possible action answerable by law (Lachman, 2006).
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.
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 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).
Standards are important aspects of nursing that a nurse must learn and implement every day for the rest of their nursing career. These standards provide for a nurse’s competence in the quality of care they deliver to the public. Standards offer a necessary guidance to nurses everywhere in an effort to ensure that people are treated correctly and ethically. Patients expect nurses to have a general knowledge of the medical realm and to know exactly what it is they –as nurses- are responsible for. Nurses need to have a sense of professionalism that enable the patient to feel safe and secure, knowing that a competent person is caring for him. A lack of professionalism does the opposite, making it impossible for a patient to trust or respect the nurse caring for him. Standards of nursing, if utilized correctly, give the nurse that sense of professionalism the patient is expecting. It insures for the safety of the patient and allows the nurse to provide quality health care that is expected of a medical professional.
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...
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.
This provision is strongly connected with nursing as a human science because one has to treat every patient in a unique matter with respect, compassion and empathy to their particular situation they are experiencing. The third provision interrelates with the fundamental nursing responsibilities of optimizing the health by advocating for the patient and protecting the patient. In sixth provision, it explains how nursing is group work that is constantly being evaluated, and improving to provide a safe but quality environment for everyone. (Morrisard, n.d.) Each of code of ethics are essential in providing care for the patient as well as protecting the patient’s safety, rights, and
Nursing surrounds the concept of patient care physically, mentally and ethically. The therapeutic relationship that is created is built on the knowledge and skills of the nurse and relies on patient and nurse trusting one another. The use of nursing skills can ensure these boundaries are maintained, it allows for safe patient care. Professional boundaries are the line that nurses cannot cross, involving aspects such as patient confidentiality and privacy, ensuring legal aspects of nursing and the boundaries put in place are not breached. However, nurses accepting financial or personal gain from patient can also cross these professional boundaries. It is only through education in this area that the rights of patients can be preserved, as well as the nursing standards. Through education in areas such as confidentiality, boundaries can remain in tact and the patient care can remain within the zone of helpfulness.
Integrity, respect for persons, justice, non-maleficence, and responsibility are all identified within the code, however compassion is not directly stated but is implied. To show compassion for others during suffering is an almost automatic response in nursing. When nurses decide to act either beneficently or non-maleficently they are doing a service to those being cared for. When dealing with human lives moral value becomes especially important, and is not situationally dependent. Ethical neutrality does not have a place in professional ethics, and an obligation to respect the moral values is necessary. The code deals with specific issues related to the nursing profession, and ensures standards are upheld. Creation of code of ethics within a profession limits misconduct, create safeguards, promote trust for the profession within society, and preserves the integrity of the profession (Soskolne, 1984) It is important for me to emphasize the difference between the nurse’s code of ethics and the Hippocratic Oath. The nurses ethical code is tailored toward the care provided to the patient, and not the involved science and diagnostic aspect of the