Nursing Students’ Perspectives on the Concept of Human Dignity: A Descriptive Study

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine nursing students’ perceptions and understanding of human dignity and to identify the factors that influence these perceptions.Method: This research was conducted using a descriptive research design. Research was conducted in the nursing departments of 2 universities in İzmir province in Türkiye. The sample of the study consisted of nursing students (n = 475) who were studying at one of the 2 universities and agreed to participate in the study. “Student Introduction Form” and “Perception and Understanding of Human Dignity in Nursing Scale” were used to collect data.Results: The average score on the scale was 209.31 ± 14.80. Students scored 72.95 ± 5.80 points in the understanding sub-dimension, 72.67 ± 5.48 points in the perception sub-dimension, and 63.68 ± 4.49 points in the care sub-dimension.Conclusion: Results of this study show that these nursing students have a high level of perception and understanding of the concept of human dignity. Furthermore, factors such as students’ grade levels, gender, and ethical education status had an impact on their perceptions and understanding of the concept of human dignity on their journey to becoming professional nurses.