Dignity and respect

Abstract In accordance with their human rights, everyone is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect. The concept of dignity lies at the core of nursing philosophy and practice. It is enshrined in the NHS Constitution, international and UK legislation, and the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code. A commitment to dignity should be a central feature of the way nurses work to create, and sustain, a culture that promotes and respects the human rights of those receiving care. Failure to uphold dignified caring has been central to the findings of public inquiries set up to investigate evidence of poor, or unacceptable, standards of care. Dignity and respect are particularly important when dealing with older people, people living with dementia, those with learning disabilities, people suffering mental ill health or psychological distress, and neurodivergent people. This chapter describes key nursing responsibilities when communicating with these diverse groups.