Nurses’ perceptions of professional dignity in hospital settings

Abstract

Background: The concept of dignity can be divided into two main attributes: absolute dignity that calls for recognition of an inner worth of persons and social dignity that can be changeable and can be lost as a result of different social factors and moral behaviours. In this light, the nursing profession has a professional dignity that is to be continually constructed and re-constructed and involves both main attributes of dignity. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine how nurses described nursing's professional dignity in internal medicine and surgery departments in hospital settings. Research design: The research design was qualitative. Ethical considerations: This study was approved by the ethics committees of the healthcare organizations involved. All the participants were provided with information about the purpose and the nature of the study. Participants: A total of 124 nurses participated in this study. Method: The data were collected using 20 focus group sessions in different parts of Italy. The data were analysed by means of a conventional inductive content analysis starting from the information retrieved in order to extract meaning units and sorting the arising phenomena into conceptually meaningful categories and themes. Results: Nursing's professional dignity was deeply embedded in the innermost part of individuals. Regarding the social part of dignity, a great importance was put on the values that compose nursing's professional identity, the socio-historical background and the evolution of nursing in the area considered. The social part of dignity was also linked to collaboration with physicians and with healthcare assistants who were thought to have a central role in easing work strain. Equally important, though, was the relationship with peers and senior nurses. Conclusion: The organizational environments under scrutiny with their low staffing levels, overload of work and hierarchical interactions did not promote respect for the dignity of nurses. To understand these professional values, it is pivotal to comprehend the role of different health professions in their cultural milieu and the evolution of the nursing profession in diverse countries.

Indian nurses in Italy: a qualitative study of their professional and social integration

“…, Sabatino et al . ). Healthcare assistants also contributed to a hostile work setting and exhibited attitudes of lack of regard, avoidance and rejection of duties.…”

“…However, these events seemed not to relate to any ethnic origin. In countries like Italy, where physicians still have a strong dominant position, especially in hospitals and nursing homes, this is not only a problem for Indian nurses; almost all nurses are limited in clinical autonomy and decision-making (Sabatino et al 2016).…”

Constructing Recognition of the Others State of Surrendering- A Grounded Theory

“…D. Clinical: The rapid pace of work and time constraints of the operating schedule undermine the NA's professional obligation to assume true ethical responsibility [3,4]. Although the patient is dependent on the NA's technical skills [23], the obligation also implies the ability to preserve the patient's as well as her/his own dignity [7,19].…”

“…Sabatino et al [7] concluded that the healthcare organisation has an obligation towards staff members to facilitate an ethical environment that not only strengthens professional dignity but also helps protect human dignity in the caring encounter. The NA's presence at the threshold of unconsciousness encompasses not only her/his skill but also ethics and knowledge of how to manage the patient's life from induction to emergence [3,5].…”

“…The extent to which the nurse stands-by the patient has a major influence on how the latter experiences the former's involvement in her/his care [8]. Because external conditions influence our relationship with others, the nurse-patient interaction requires knowledge of what it is that characterizes the substance of the NA's concerns and how she/he deals with them [7,9].…”