Search Results (2)

Background: Human care represents the essence of nursing but faces challenges from increasing technological advancement and healthcare system bureaucratization. Objective: To understand how nursing students balance technical demands with human aspects of care during pre-professional practice experiences. Methods: An interpretive phenomenological study was conducted with 17 nursing students (12 women, 5 men) in their eighth and ninth semesters from a public university in northern Ecuador. The data were collected through focused interviews during the first quarter of 2025. Analysis followed a four-stage phenomenological process: epoché, phenomenological reduction, eidetic reduction, and transcendental reduction, culminating in phenomenological interpretation. Data saturation was achieved, and methodological rigor criteria were applied including triangulation with external analysts. Results: Six main strategies emerged that students develop to balance technical demands with humanized care: Time Management and Optimization, Integration of Human and Technical Dimensions, Patient Communication About Time Constraints, Emotional Regulation and Boundary Setting, Resistance to Dehumanization, and Institutional Context Adaptation. Students transform technical procedures into therapeutic opportunities and develop resilient competencies that preserve nursing’s humanistic values. Conclusions: Nursing students develop integrative competencies that balance technical excellence with human sensitivity. Curriculum modifications are needed to include specific competencies in emotional regulation, therapeutic communication, and dehumanization resistance strategies. Full article

Background: Navigating inpatient care can be complex and distressing for patients, particularly as they grapple with the emotional and physical changes brought about by their condition. Ensuring the preservation of human dignity during this period is vital, as it directly influences an individual’s self-esteem and overall quality of life, most prominently during end-of-life care. The hospital milieu and the behaviour of healthcare professionals can significantly affect a patient’s dignity. This paper scrutinized the concept of human dignity in inpatient care, with a primary emphasis on its theological, social, and regional context, drawing particularly on the Eastern Orthodox tradition and the central European, specifically Slovakian, context. Methodology: This study engaged respected authors in theology, social science, and healthcare to present an enriched understanding of the bio-psycho-social-spiritual components of human dignity. The analysis incorporated a blend of theological concepts, empirical findings, and regional insights to provide a nuanced perspective on dignity conservation. Results: The study illuminates the criticality of preserving human dignity from a multi-dimensional perspective, promoting patient autonomy, acknowledging their cultural and spiritual beliefs, and confronting societal attitudes and practices. It draws from theological doctrines and the European Charter of Patient’s Rights to advocate for a nuanced, dignity-conserving approach to patient care. Case studies and practical strategies for preserving human dignity in palliative care contexts, based on clinical guidelines, empirical studies, and theological writings, are presented. Conclusions: This study highlights the integral role of human dignity from both theological and practical perspectives in inpatient care, advocating for a comprehensive, patient-centered approach to care that values the individual’s bio-psycho-social-spiritual facets. It underscores the necessity for a collaborative commitment between healthcare providers, patients, and their families to foster a milieu that unconditionally supports the dignity of the ill person. Full article