Relationship between Nurses’ Clinical Competency and the Observance of Patients’ Human Dignity in the Intensive Care Units

Background Nurses, as the largest group of healthcare providers, especially in intensive care units, play a vital role in providing quality services and promoting health. It seems that providing high-quality and ethical care requires nurses to possess the necessary clinical competency. This study was designed to determine the relationship between nurses' clinical competency and the human dignity of patients in intensive care units. Methodology: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted in 2024 in intensive care units in Ardabil, a large city in northwest Iran. 196 nurses working in intensive care units were included using a census sampling method. Data collection tools included questionnaires on nurses' socio-demographic information, nurses' clinical competency, and patients' human dignity. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 26 with descriptive statistics (frequency, mean, standard deviation) and inferential statistics (t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient). Results According to the results, the mean score for nurses’ clinical competency was (75.67 ± 12.69), which indicated an excellent status of clinical competency. However, the highest frequency of skills application (79.6%) was reported at the “occasionally” level. The mean score for the observance of dignity was (4.04 ± 0.44) and was at an excellent level. Among the domains, “Privacy” achieved the highest score, while “Autonomy” received the lowest score. A positive and statistically significant relationship was observed between the domains of nurses’ clinical competency and the domains of patients’ human dignity observance (P < 0.05). Conclusion The mean scores for nurses' clinical competency and respecting patients' human dignity are at high and excellent levels. Furthermore, a strong positive and significant correlation exists between clinical competency and human dignity. These findings indicate that nurses with higher clinical competency show a greater tendency and ability to preserve the human dignity of patients. The study results can serve as a basis for reviewing educational programs, continuous professional development for nurses, and formulating organizational policies to strengthen both clinical competency and respect for human dignity.