Ensuring Privacy for Patients in a Common Department during Selected Nursing Procedures

Abstract This bachelor's thesis deals with the issue of privacy of hospitalized patients whose health status does not allow them to perform hygienic care and bowl movement. The aim of this work was to find out how nurses in the common hospital departments ensure the privacy of patients when performing hygienic care and bowl movement, and what obstacles prevent them from ensuring sufficient privacy. Some nurses also had the opportunity to express how they could improve patient privacy. The qualitative research was conducted in one of the district hospitals of the South Bohemian Region in four common departments: the Internal Department, the Surgical Department, the Department of Neurology and the Aftercare Department. The research was conducted through an interview and was attended by eight nurses, two from each department. As a complementary method, a participant observation that took place in the above mentioned departments during my practical training was chosen. The results of the research revealed that nurses provide sufficient privacy when performing hygienic care and bowl movement when the patient is able to be transported to the bathroom or toilet. In case the patient undergoes hygienic care and bowl movement in the room, his privacy was not fully ensured, with some exceptions. According to the nurses, the obstacle is the insufficient number of social facilities that are part of the rooms and the lack or complete absence of screens in the wards