Dignity in Nursing

Question: What is it ? Why is it important? What policies and guidelines relates to it? Answer: Dignity in nursing referes to handling clients with respect and worthiness regardless of cultural, social, racial and religious background. It involves considering the patients views, values, need for privacy, confidentiality, and wishes in the effort to maintain their autonomy, diversity as well as prevent them from humiliation and embarrassment (Bailli Matiti, 2013). Maintaining dignity by all health care providers is essential as it generally ensures the patients emotional and psychological well-being, self-concept and sustenance of self-esteem which are some of the key factors that determine ones wellness. On the other hand, it increases the patients comfort, ensures quality service delivery, increased satisfaction with both the client and the health care provider and overall better outcome. According to the Nursing and Midwifery Code (NMC) (2016), nurses and midwives are supposed to provide care based on the patients needs and at the best interest of their clients in order to always preserve their dignity. Patients should not be treated with discrimination but with kindness, compassion, respect and upholding of all human rights and rights of the patient. Nurses and other health service providers are supposed to employ effective communication skills when communicating with their clients and practice with the guidance of best available evidence. In orde to preserve dignity in trauma, one is expected to provide services while being considerate of the physical, psychological and social impacts of the trauma. Recognition of when individuals are distressed and responding with politeness and compassion assures them of their worthiness. According to Lesley Baillie (2009), some patient conditions may affect the patients privacy as it depends on the nature of service they require and how urgent it is. Thus in some instances, health care providers may respond to the clients condition without seeking consent but still ensuring patient needs are met. During accident and emergency, nurses should provide critical care and respond to emergencies within the limits of their competencies as it is a measure of safety for self and their clients. This is a form of honesty and integrity that promotes the dignity of clients, professionalism, and trust from both the clients and colleagues. As patient advocates, nurses should always cooperate with colleagues, identify and reduce risks to the patient. Additionally, sexual abuse victims should be offered professional counseling, treated with haste and provided with guidance on how to handle the matter legally. Information regarding the patient should be confidential and only to be shared with third parties as relatives and health care providers when necessary and if the law allows. The nurse should act as the clients advocate who is vulnerable to ensure they are provided care with indiscrimination and without intimidation (Richardson, 2013). References Baillie, L., Matiti, M 2013, Dignity, equality, and diversity: An exploration of how discriminatory behavior of healthcare workers affects patient dignity, Diversity, and Equality in Health and Care,10,1, 5-12. Lesley Baillie, 2009, Patient dignity in an acute hospital setting: A case study, International Journal of Nursing Studies 46 2337. NMC and Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2016, The code professional standards of practice and behavior for nurses and midwives nursing and Midwifery council,' Richardson, H 2013, Patient dignity, A picture of compassionate care, The Health Service Journal,123,6372, 22-3.