title: Threats to nurses' dignity and intent to leave the profession.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is essential to pay attention to and respect the dignity of nurses to maintain them in their profession while they deliver skilled nursing care. Little is known, however, about how a sense of dignity influences the practitioner.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to describe nurses' experiences of threats to their dignity occurring within clinical settings, which generates an intention to leave clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed using qualitative content analysis. The participants were 21 clinical nurses with work experience who were employed across a range of clinical posts. Data obtained from the semi-structured interviews were analyzed and interpreted using a content analysis approach. Ethical considerations: The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences and was guided by the ethical principles of voluntary enrolment, anonymity, privacy, and confidentiality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Within data analysis, three main themes and nine categories were extracted as follows: (1) lack of professional pride (physician's dominance, intangible nature of nursing, and negative attitude toward clinical nurses); (2) oppressive work environment (high workload, disrespect, discrimination, and lack of support); and (3) suppression of progressivism (lack of appreciation and attention to meritocracy).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Almost all of the participants have experienced some degree of disrespect and violation of dignity. In general, attempts made by the participants to show their objection to the threats and to support and protect their dignity have not been effective and in fact made them more inclined to leave the clinical work.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the views of nurses themselves, identification of the factors threatening nurses' dignity can be one of the appropriate solutions for the broader and deeper investigation of this phenomenon and can help promote and support nurses' dignity and their retention within the profession.
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Valizadeh
authors.affiliation: Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zamanzadeh
authors.affiliation: Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors.forename: Hosein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Habibzadeh
authors.affiliation: Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors.forename: Leyla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alilu
authors.affiliation: University of the West of Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gillespie
authors.affiliation: Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shakibi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D028723:Personhood; D010563:Personnel Turnover; D036301:Qualitative Research; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Content analysis; dignity; intention to leave; nurses; qualitative research