What should a nursing assistant focus on when assisting with elimination to ensure comfort for the patient?

When assisting a patient with elimination, the focus on dignity, privacy, and professionalism is essential for promoting comfort and a positive experience for the patient. Dignity involves respecting the patient as an individual and acknowledging their needs and feelings during a personal task that can often lead to embarrassment or discomfort.

Ensuring privacy helps the patient feel secure and respected, allowing them to relax and feel less exposed during the process. This can be achieved by using screens, closing doors, or ensuring that only necessary personnel are present. Professionalism further reinforces trust between the patient and the nursing assistant, as it involves maintaining a respectful, calm demeanor and adhering to appropriate conduct regardless of the situation.

In contrast, while speed and efficiency are important in a healthcare setting, they should not come at the cost of compromising the patient's comfort or dignity. Following facility guidelines is also essential, but these guidelines should incorporate respect for the patient's privacy and dignity as core principles. Engaging in conversation can be friendly and helpful, but it may not always contribute to the patient's comfort level and should be approached with sensitivity to their needs at that moment.