Information and credits

The RCN wishes to thank Smith and Nephew for their unrestricted educational grant which supported the Dignity campaign and resource development during 2008/2009.

Who is this learning for?

This learning area is relevant to all registered nurses, student nurses, health care assistants and assistant practitioners working in any health care setting or specialism. Learners can work through this resource at their own pace either all at once, or by one of the “bite sized” pieces of learning whenever it is convenient for them. Each of the six topics can be explored in turn or learners may select the topics most relevant to their needs.

Dignity and me - is about how you convey dignity - and how you receive it. This topic addresses your self-awareness, the effects of your appearance, and what dignity at work really means.
Person-centred care - provides practical examples of powerful concepts such as empowerment, choice and empathy - and the ways in which they contribute to dignified care.
Dignified differences - explores ways in which paying attention to these differences creates a dignified experience of health care for people.
Caring with dignity - shows us that unless we always remember there's a person at the heart of these sometimes complex processes, dignity can be compromised.
Communicating with dignity - provides practical examples to show how diverse communication skills can be.
A dignified environment - looks at your workplace from a perspective of dignity.

Learning outcomes

After completing the reading and activities in this resource, learners should be able to:

Define what dignity means to themselves and others.
Demonstrate their own self-awareness of the concept of dignity by giving examples of dignified care in practice.
Describe a range of examples of how dignity is promoted – or neglected – in health and social care.
Identify barriers to dignified care, and ways of overcoming them.
Cite ways in which they can raise awareness of, and challenge, practice that lacks dignity.
Recognise that dignified care is a multidisciplinary responsibility by describing the role other health care providers play in providing dignified care.
Develop an action plan to promote dignity in their workplace.

Principles of Nursing Practice

The eight Principles of Nursing Practice can be applied to this learning resource however, the principles that feature most predominantly are:

Principle A - treating everyone with dignity and humanity.
Principle D - providing and promoting person-centred care.
Principle H - leading by example and influencing care that responds to individual needs.

These principles provide a useful framework for writing a reflective record of your learning. You may also think of ways you can draw on the remaining principles based on your own clinical experience and observations.

Relevant KSF dimensions

Core dimension 1 - Communication
Core dimension 4 - Service improvement
Core dimension 5 - Quality
Core dimension 6 - Equality and diversity
All Health and wellbeing dimensions

Development team

This learning area was developed by Adrienne Willcox MA, RN, Practice Educator.
Animations and interactive elements were developed by John Heseltine BSc(Hons) and George Reith.

Reviewers

Wendy Cross RGN, BSc(Hons), Lead Nurse: Governance and Performance, Western Health and Social Care Trust, N.Ireland.
Janice Gabriel MPhil, PgD, BSc(Hons), RN, FETC, ONC, Nurse Director, Central South Coast Cancer Network.
Nicky Hayes RGN, BA(Hons), MSc, PGCert (HE), Consultant Nurse, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Dr Milika Ruth Matiti PhD, MSc, BCur(I et A), MRM, RGN, Lecturer, University of Nottingham, School of Nursing (Boston Centre).
Ruth Meadows MSc (Nursing), Dip.Nursing, RCNT, RSCN, SRN, Assistant Director of Nursing; Named Nurse for Safeguarding Children, St. Georges Hospital.
Lorraine Morgan MSc(Econ), PGDip Management of Care, RN, RM, RCNT, DipN Medical Nursing, FHEA, Staff Tutor, Health, Nursing and Social Care, The Open University in Wales.
Karen Phillips RGN, RSCN Ward Manager: Children's Wards. Royal Preston Hospital, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Vivienne Evans, Communication Officer, Royal College of Nursing.

Confidentiality

The Learning Zone upholds the principles of confidentiality and anonymity. We would like to thank the models, actors and others who allowed their images to be used in this learning area. The names and identifiable information of people and places have been changed except for those already in the public domain or where an individual has given permission for the Learning Zone to present a real life account.