Dignity, Disgust and Compassion:Nursing with Humanity

Rachel Hadland, Nicky Lambert and Lucy Watkins

Working towards a collaborative definition

of ‘Dignity’...

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Dignity is concerned with how people feel, think and behave in relation to the worth

or value of themselves and others. To treat someone with dignity is to treat them as being of worth, in a way that is

respectful of them as valued individuals.

(RCN, 2008)

Dignity is preserved and offended through our

words and actions, … so what is it that we

say and do ?(Lindwall, 2012)

Dignity Violation

• Rudeness• Indifference• Condescension• Dismissal• Disregard• Dependence• Intrusion• Objectification

• Restriction• Labelling• Contempt• Discrimination• Revulsion• Deprivation• Assault• Abjection

(Jacobson, 2009)

Why disgust?

The benefits: • ‘wisdom in disgust’The dangers: • Disgust/fear of our own mortality is not a sound

basis for decision making.• It stops us seeing people as worthy of and

entitled to respect.• It may stop that person from developing and

functioning as a dignified human

(Melo-Martin and Salles, 2011)

What about us?

• Powerlessness• Punishments • Moral judgements• Undeserving of care• Stigma • Staff distress • Maladaptive strategies• Lack of knowledge / training

Nurses who preserve dignity for others protect their own sense of worth and professional identity

1. Recognise your response as a ‘symptom’ that something is wrong.

2. Nurse yourself first (seek support, reflective practice, supervision).

3. Celebrate your power and humanity.

Remember

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ReferencesBaillie, L. and Gallagher, A. (2009) Evaluation of the RCNs ‘Dignity: at the heart of everything we do’ campaign: exploring challenges and enablers. Journal of Research in Nursing. Vol. 15 (1) 15-28Jacobson, N. (2009) Dignity violation in health care. Qualitative Health Research. Vol. 19 (11) 1536-1547 Lindwall, L., Boussaid, L., Kultzer, S., and Wigerblad, A. (2012) Patient dignity in psychiatric nursing practice. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. Vol. 19. 569-576Melo-Martin, I., and Salles, A. (2011) On Disgust and Human Dignity. Journal of Value Inquiry. Vol. 45. 159-168Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008) The Code: Standards of Conduct. Performance and Ethics for Nursing and Midwifery. NMC. London.Royal College of Nursing (2008) Defending Dignity: Challenges and Opportunities for Nursing. RCN. London.