Promoting dignity in nursing education – How educators manoeuvre to promote dignity

Abstract

Background: Dignity is a core value in nursing. One of the objectives in nursing education is to promote dignity and contribute to the students' discovery of this value. Research shows that dignity in nursing education is threatened, due to lack of attention and an increasing problem with incivility. Purpose: The study aims to explore how nursing educators experience their contribution in promoting dignity in nursing education. Method: Five focus group conversations were conducted with nursing educators, and Gadamer's philosophical hermeneutics was chosen as the study's scientific theoretical approach. Findings: The educators experienced that they promoted dignity by safeguarding the dignity in the nursing profession in general, by promoting the dignity of the nursing students in particular, and through promoting dignity in challenging situations. Conclusion: The study emphasizes the importance of promoting dignity in nursing education. It found that the nursing educators promoted dignity by safeguarding the dignity of both the nursing profession and the nursing students, and by manoeuvring judiciously between these two when there was disharmony between them. By manoeuvring challenging situations using discretion, the ethical demand will be given room. Dignity can then be fulfilled between people in harmony with professional, social and cultural norms, and in that way promote dignity in nursing education.