Dignity is a complex concept but is a central nursing value. Nursing care should be delivered in a way that respects the uniqueness and dignity of each patient regardless of their culture or religion. Dignity can be defined as “Patient dignity is feeling valued and comfortable psychologically with one’s physical presentation and behaviour, level of control over the situation, and the behaviour of other people in the environment” (Baillie , 2007). A patient’s experience in a hospital environment can depend on whether their dignity is promoted or threatened. Dignity can be violated, that is why it demands respect but also at the same time protection. If this dignity is protected and respected it can lead to a better quality of life for the patient which is the main aim of nursing care.
Nurses have a professional responsibility to respects patient’s dignity through dignified care. This type of care can be defined as ‘dignity is the backbone of care’, ‘it’s the “little things”’, ‘feeling safe and secure’, ‘treat as you want to be treated’, ‘treat as an individual’ and ‘Dignity
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An example that stands out for me is when a nurse and I gave a patient with Parkinsons a bed bath. This patient had been suffering from parkinsons for 20 years and needed assistance X 2 for their hygiene needs. To keep this patient’s dignity intact I first ask for the patient’s consent, I then proceeded to wash the patients face in a gentle manner. I ensured that the patient’s body was covered by a towel or clothing if possible to maintain their dignity. I also asked the patient if they felt comfortable throughout the wash or if they needed anything. When the patient was washed and dressed I then brushed their hair to uphold their appearance and make them feel more clean and presentable for any visitors they had. By making the patient feel comfortable and respected throughout this task I promoted and maintained their
As a nurse dignity is providing each individual with the best possible care despite circumstances, differences in morals, beliefs and cultures. It is preserving personhood and humanity in all situations, acknowledging their values even if they contradict our own. Both Lia’s parents and the doctors had Lia’s best interest in mind they had different view points and approaches in reaching that unanimous goal. Caregivers could have restored dignity to the Lee’s by making them feel respected, that their traditions and culture were valued. Neil and Peggy were even more surprised- and grieved- to learn that the Lees believed that Lia had been taken from them in the first place not to safeguard her health but because the doctors were angry at [them] for being non compliant, and wished to inflict punishment (p.110).
When I assist personal care to someone, a number of possible risk factors are applying, e.g. I can expect risks to my health sourced in manual handling (like lifting, transferring etc.), clinical hygiene, materials and equipment, challenging behavior, or I might get infections from the individual. During different kind of twisting, bending, reaching moves, or by exerting high or unexpected forces different muscle groups around my neck, shoulders and back can be injured, or hurt. So, to sum up, I consider providing support with personal hygiene routines – such as shaving, showering or toileting – to people who are not capable to do these tasks alone has a high risk factor associated mainly with musculoskeletal injuries. The source of these
Dignity: all service users receiving care should be treated with dignity. Independence: all service users receiving care should be encouraged to be as independent as possible and continue to do as much as they can for themselves. Privacy: the service user has a right to privacy to be respected such
The 3rd provision of the code states that “the nurse is responsible for promoting, advocating for and protecting the health, safety and rights of the patient”. This means that it is the nurse’s responsibility to ensure that the patient has a safe environment to be treated and the ability to discuss health issues without unwanted
Human dignity is respect for individuals who have unique characteristics. Every person has the right to be treated with honor and respect and preserving human dignity is very important in nursing practice. Next core value is integrity. Integrity is demonstrated when the nurse provides honest care that based on ethical framework accepted within the nursing profession. Social justice is another core value in nursing practice.
Every nursing, in order to consider the profession must have an understanding of at least three of the five professional values, in my opinion. These values consist of altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity and social justice (Taylor 96). Beginning with the professional value of Altruism, the believe in or practice and self concern for the well-being of others (96). I believe that in order to be the best nurse you can be for your patients, you must understand the concept of altruism. As a nurse, your profession is to take care of people, if you do not know the professional value of altruism than you cannot possibly understand how important it is to care about the wellbeing of your patient.
As a Heath Professional it is your professional duty “to provide appropriate assistance, within their sphere of knowledge and competence, in such circumstances. Wherever possible, a nurse should arrange for emergency care to be accessed and provided promptly.” Royal collage of Nursing (2018). maintain an ethical and moral approach towards patients and other Health professionals. Poor morals and ethical choices are what codes such as the ‘Code of Ethics for Nursing in Australia’, the code points out eight key ethical points that look after privacy, cultural beliefs, diversity, respectfulness of the patients that the nurses are giving therapeutic care too. The code of ethics for nursing helps outline and “guide ethical decision-making and practice, and indicate to the community the human rights standards and ethical values it can expect nurses to uphold.”
Hamil (1999) can be used to support this, in the essay. I will also use Gibbs (1988) reflective framework to structure this assignment, as it can help with understanding what went well, what did not do so well and how to improve. Whilst reflecting on the clinical experience where dignity was maintained, I will analyse the situation and use literature to validate my findings. Royal College of Nursing, (2008) defines dignity as ‘Dignity is concerned with how people feel, think and behave in relation to the worth or value of themselves and
It is the person and their physical, emotional, and psychological needs that are the basic focus of nursing’s attention. In order to care for a patient, the nurse must incorporate all these needs. For example, providing reassurance with an anxious patient who just finished hip surgery. Care also plays a major part when taking care of a unique patient. Caring influences my personal philosophy because it is the most important aspect of nursing.
Introduction: This assignment will explore the Roper, Logan and Tierney model used in first clinical placement and will explain how it helped to guide nurses to focus on the fundamentals of patient care. Patient dignity is upheld by using this model following the principles outlined in the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Nurses and Midwives as will be discussed. An outline of the philosophical claims of the nursing model that guides practice on the unit for first clinical placement.
What does nursing mean to me? Nursing means helping people heal, meeting their needs while they are in your care, listening to concerns, protecting them from harm, and educating them how to care for themselves while treating them with dignity, compassion and respect and giving of yourself to the care of people and community. It is having compassion for people and their health and being a humanitarian, making sure they receive the best care possible. Nurses must also treat families of patients with kindness, realizing they are going through a stressful situation also. Nursing is a responsibility to provide the best care regardless of the patient’s age, race, religion, sex, disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or their past.
All nurses should take positive actions to help their patients and to have the desire to do good. On the other hand, nonmaleficence is the core of the nursing ethics and it revolves around the idea that nurses have to remain competent in their field as to avoid causing injury or harm to patients. Nonmaleficence also requires all health care professionals to report any suspected abuse. The last ethical principle is justice. This ethical principle revolves around the idea that all patients must be treated equally and fairly.
Utilitarianism and Deontology are two major ethical theories that influence nursing practice. Utilitarian principles of promoting the greatest good for the greatest amount of people parallels the nursing tenet of beneficence. Deontological principles of treating individuals with dignity, and promoting the well-being of the individual parallels the nursing tenet of non-maleficence. Utilitarian and Deontological principles can be utilized to resolve ethical dilemmas that arise in the nursing profession. The purpose of this paper is to define utilitarianism and deontology, discuss the similarities and differences between the two, and to address an ethical dilemma utilizing utilitarian and deontological principles.
Background and Significance of the Study Moral integrity is the key ingredients and navigator in professional nurses that lead to ultimate goal of nursing care. It has been recognized as a fundamental part of professional nurses’ practice (Ulrich et al, 2010; Pavlish et al, 2012). Professional nurses play the largest role to support the need for individualized treatment of the patient. The goals of the profession of nursing are related to ethical and involve protecting patients from harm while providing care that is the most benefit for the patient (Bosek, 2009; Kopala&Burkhart, 2005; Helft, 2011; Susan, 2013,). Nowadays, professional nurses have encountered to face and manage with moral problem that occur from complexity of patient health problems, advances in technology, inappropriate of health care system, policies and priorities that conflict with care needs, inadequate staffing and increased turnover, or lack of administrative support (Brazil et al. 2010; Eizenberg et al. 2009; Elpern et al. 2005;
Introduction: The ABCD (Attitude, Behaviour, Compassion and Dialogue) of dignity-conserving care is a fundamental tool for use by healthcare professionals (HPCs) to establish empathy with patients and to uphold human dignity (Chochinov, 2007: 184). These 4 key elements will be discussed with reference to the given scenario. The importance of establishing empathy with patients, and how the ABCD aids this, will be outlined. My own thoughts and self-reflection in response to the scenario will be discussed and the process of becoming a future Integrated Health Professional (IHP) will be considered.