Patient Dignity In Nursing

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Modern nursing holds the protection of patient dignity and the delivery of compassionate care as highly important elements of the profession. This can be seen from the Government of Ireland's (2006) publication, A Vision for Change, in which patients highlighted that one of the most valued aspects of psychiatric nursing is being treated with dignity and respect during their time as inpatients. According to the Royal College of Nursing (2017), dignity represents the way an individual feels, thinks and behaves as a reaction to their perception of self worth and value. Widang and Fridlund (2003) believe that dignity is related to a person’s autonomy or practical self determination and integrity. In the author’s opinion, the maintaining of a person’s dignity is of the utmost importance when delivering …show more content…
Delivery of compassionate care has been described as beginning with an “authentic bond between a nurse and a patient” (Burnell, 2009 p.320) and differs from care itself, which could be viewed as simply completing a task as part of the job. “Compassion relates to the quality of the relationship between the nurse and the patient, incorporating emotional connection and interpersonal skills” (Ballantyne, 2013 p.61). The delivery of compassionate care, in the opinion of the author, is helped by the therapeutic relationship that can exist between the client and the nurse. According to the Health Service Executive (2017), this can be seen as a bond that empowers the patient and promotes well being and recovery. With this relationship, the patient and nurse find common ground and a respect for one another, which can aid in the recovery process and the delivery of dignified compassionate care. This type of holistic care according to the views of Randers and Mattiasson (2004) may aid in the support of patients and help to protect their autonomy and integrity and by extension their