Maintaining Your Client's Dignity

In healthcare, dignity is a basic right ALL people have as human beings. This means all people are entitled to be treated with dignity simply because they are humans.

The A, B, C & D of Dignity

A = Attitude. Attitudes are learned behaviors that cause you to make assumptions. These assumptions lead you to behave in a certain way toward certain groups, or categories of people, treating them not as they are—but as you assume them to be. Be sure to check your own attitudes toward your clients. Make sure they are based on facts!

B = Behavior. A Caregiver’s behavior towards clients must always be based on kindness and respect. Give every client the same kindness and respect, regardless of their medical condition or ability to communicate.

C = Compassion. Having and showing compassion requires an acute awareness of the suffering of another person combined with the desire to relieve it.

D = Dialogue. Dialogue is simply a conversation you have with your client. You probably have conversations with clients all the time, but there is a special kind of dialogue that helps maintain your clients’ dignity. The goal of that conversation is to acknowledge your client as a person—not just as an illness or another body in a bed.

Maintain Dignity Across Cultures

Practice patience. Some families, especially those with low income, or those who have not had much experience in the healthcare system, may have trouble trusting doctors and nurses. You may also be dealing with different languages and communication styles.
Accept all religions. Give the client and family the freedom to worship, pray and practice their beliefs.
Avoid stereotyping. Learn to see and accept individuals for who they are. For example, you care for clients from India: one is Muslim and the other is Christian. It would be unfair to make general assumptions about the Indian culture without knowing all the facts about each individual.

Maintain Your Own Dignity

Be honest with yourself. To have true and honest compassion for others, you must be able to identify your own fears, doubts and weaknesses.
Acknowledge your mistakes. When you try to hide or cover up a mistake, the guilt will gnaw at you and, over time, chip away at your dignity.
Stand up for what’s right. You may be the only one brave enough to make a difference.
Set goals and achieve them. Setting goals for yourself helps keep your life on track
Respect yourself. Respect yourself by dressing appropriately and presenting yourself to the world with dignity and grace.