This philosophical inquiry explored the phenomenon, shame, as experienced by women in health related situations. Relational psychology was proposed as a therapeutic means of caring for women to prevent or reduce both the client's and nurse's shame. The central question was: How does a deeper understanding of women's shame contribute to nursing practice, education, research, and theory?.

This study of shame, considered the master emotion by some psychologists, was significant because shame is ubiquitous in human beings. Shame is a negative affect with feelings of being defective, unworthy, bad, and inadequate, accompanied by a desire to be silent and/or to hide. Too much is undesirable and results in toxic shame, or a person with a shame-based personality who has difficulty functioning and establishing relationships. Health-care situations have the potential for arousing shame in nurses and patients. Shame occurs when the interpersonal bridge is broken. Relational psychology provides insights that relieve the isolation of shame through reestablishing and maintaining relationships.

Rationale for this research is that nursing has entered an era of explication of concepts contributing to substantive nursing knowledge. Nursing praxis is in its nascent stage in understanding the importance of shame. Knowledge is provided for nurses to increase their repertoire of client care.

The method of dialectic was used to unfold meanings between self and body and between pride and shame. The latter is an original dialectic developed for this dissertation. Analysis of how shame affected women using selected literary portrayals of woman in health experiences elucidated the phenomenon shame. Analysis and evaluation of Sartre's philosophy, relational psychology, and literature on shame was included in this philosophical inquiry.

Nurses may minimize shame by using the nursing skills of empathy, mutuality, caring, and trust encompassed by relational psychology. Nurses who understand the dialects of self and body and of shame and pride are better able to provide enlightened care. Shame is a part of our humanness and when it is understood and recognized, nurses and clients are empowered.