Human Rights in Nursing

Question: Discuss about the Report for Human Rights in Nursing. Answer: The right to humanity, dignity and equality is universal to every individual in any kind of settings. According to the nine principles of Catholic social thought, human dignity is one of the basic principles of developing a peaceable and compassionate society (Massaro, 2015). In nursing practice, we have to comply with the nursing competency standards and ethical codes, where addressing human dignity is a key aspect. While working in the healthcare settings, I have experienced some issues regarding racial and class discrimination in health care provision. In health care settings, considering older patients dignity is another common issue, which needs to be addressed for improving the quality of health care delivery (Rosen, 2012). The common good is a key principle of Catholic social thought, which is closely related to human dignity. As we have been created as social beings, an individual should experience their rights, which promotes the common good. The common good is "the good that exists in a community of solidarity among equal and active social agents" (Buettner Schmidt Lobo, 2012). The migrants are refuges do not get proper services compared to the people who have a well-known social identity. A significant racial discrimination is seen in health care settings, which violates principles related to human dignity. According to the common good principle, discrimination hinders the existence of equal and active agents in the society, which is needed for developing a peaceable and compassionate society (Park et al., 2012). Therefore, in my opinion, these kinds of social discriminations should be addressed by the higher authorities in healthcare organization for improving the situation. I have also experienced racial and gender discrimination within nursing staffs. The minority group staffs are significantly discriminated during promotions to a higher post, in spite of their effortless performance. Especially, I have experienced that, male nurses are discriminated significantly and treated unfairly in health care teams (Rosen, 2012).These kinds of issues are contributing in non-compliance to human rights and equality acts. According to my understanding, the common good is all about ensuring that human beings are treated with same opportunities and values in a collaborative community, in the absence of prejudices of race religion, wealth or social stance. However, when we are discriminating people based on their social or economic status, we are violating the principles of Catholic social though regarding the peaceable society development. Where every person is treated and respected equally from all dimensions, a strong relationship between self and community is buil t that helps in building a peaceful society (Rosen, 2012). I have experienced issues with human dignity, while working with the elderly patient. One of the patients was not able to complete his ADLs without assistance. Thus, I used to assist him, even in the process of toileting, one day he looked upset and I asked about the reason. He told that, he felt embarrassed that I helped him in his ADLs. Every person should have privacy, but in some cases, it is hard to provide adequate space to critical patients in health care settings. When a person is not getting his basic human right and dignity, it cannot be ensured that everyone is getting the same opportunity in the community, thus common good principle is not being followed. In my opinion, following equality act 2010, human rights act 2004, employee equality act and Privacy act 1988 should be followed in the heath care settings with a strict regulation. Being a nurse, I think a proper training is needed for the nursing staffs to enhance their compliance with the nursing competency standards and ethical codes. It will help to reduce the issues related to human dignity in the health care settings as well as increase the realization of common good. Reference List Buettner Schmidt, K., Lobo, M. L. (2012). Social justice: A concept analysis.Journal of advanced nursing,68(4), 948-958. Massaro, T. (2015).Living justice: Catholic social teaching in action. Rowman Littlefield. Park, M., Kjervik, D., Crandell, J., Oermann, M. H. (2012). The relationship of ethics education to moral sensitivity and moral reasoning skills of nursing students.Nursing ethics,19(4), 568-580. Rosen, M. (2012).Dignity: its history and meaning. Harvard University Press. Massachusetts