Clinical nurses' encounters of feeling disrespected: A phenomenological study

The purpose of this inquiry was to explore the lived experience of clinical nurses' encounters with feeling disrespected. This phenomenological study used a hermeneutic approach to interview seven registered professional nurses who self-identified as feeling disrespected. All participants have worked in the clinical areas for at least 2 years. A phenomenological approach utilizing Giorgi's method was used to analyze the data, interpret and reflect on the findings for this study. The Parse method was used as a guiding paradigm. New knowledge about feeling disrespected contributes to nursing science and may help nurses and organizations that employ them, provide a healthy work environment that supports and retains them. The experience of feeling disrespected was illuminated by the following themes: "powerless, feeling like a nobody, treated like you are "stupid", "utter discouragement", and "broken connections". The ethical dilemmas experienced by these nurses resulted from negative behavioral and communication patterns, from those whom they didn't expect. It was not the patients who disrespected these nurses, it was nurses with whom they worked.