ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how staff behaviour and attitudes affect patients’ dignity, with a particular focus on communication, privacy and quality fundamental care. It considers how organisational culture affects individual staff behaviour and how staff should respond when colleagues compromise dignity through their behaviour. The chapter draws on international research findings illuminating the impact of staff behaviour on patients' dignity. Staff behaviour and attitudes diminish the dignity of patients when they breach privacy, display poor communication and attitudes and deliver inadequate fundamental care. Staff should reflect on how their own attitudes and behaviour affect patients' dignity but also how these are influenced by institutional culture and their colleagues' behaviour. Staff should be aware of how organisational culture affects their own behaviour towards patients. They should also be prepared to deal with diminished dignity arising from the behaviour of colleagues, using whistle-blowing policies as necessary.
