Preserved and violated dignity in surgical practice - nurses' experiences.

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Surgical Practice
• Human Dignity

Background:

• Human dignity is a core ethical principle in healthcare.
• Understanding nurses' lived experiences of human dignity in surgical settings is crucial for patient care.
• Previous research has not fully explored the nuances of dignity as experienced by nurses in surgical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and understand nurses' experiences of human dignity within surgical practice.
• To identify factors contributing to the preservation and violation of patient dignity from the nurses' perspective.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing the critical incident technique.
• 11 nurses from surgical practice provided 49 written accounts of incidents related to human dignity.
• Hermeneutical text interpretation was employed for data analysis.

Main Results:

• Preserved dignity was experienced when healthcare professionals were attentive to patients, allowed patients to share their stories, and fostered trust.
• Violated dignity occurred when nurses witnessed disrespectful behavior, patient objectification, or humiliation, particularly at the end of life.

Conclusions:

• Nurses' experiences highlight the importance of patient-centered communication and respectful interactions in maintaining human dignity in surgical care.
• Interventions aimed at preserving dignity should focus on fostering trust and attentive care, while addressing behaviors that lead to its violation.