The horror of our bodies – our humanity, our flesh and blood – is something nurses must bear, lest the patient think too deeply, remember the lack of dignity that makes us all vulnerable. It is our vulnerability that unites us. Promoting dignity in the face of illness is one of the best gifts a nurse can give. I am reminded of the very beginning of the Nursing & Midwifery Code of Professional Conduct, clause 1.1: nurses must ‘treat patients with kindness, respect and compassion’.
