Professional Roles Essay

Professional Nursing Roles and Values-Task 1
State Regulations and Nursing Standards
In discussion of the presented case study, the nurse involved would need to be familiar with many of her state’s nurse practice codes and laws.   In the state of Arkansas the Nurse Practice Act defines in section §§17-87-102 that it is the nurse’s duty for “The observation, care and counsel of the ill, injured or infirm” (Arkansas Nurse Practice Act, 2007).   In this described instance it would be that the counsel of Mr. E that would be the most pertinent finding in the Nurse Practice Act.   When researching further into the nurse practice act and the scope of practice for registered nurses in the state, it is deemed “The delivery of healthcare services that require assessment, diagnosis, intervention, and evaluation fall within the professional nurse scope of practice” (Arkansas State Board of Nursing, 1995).   In understanding this particular statement, the nurse in this case would know that her scope of practice would be to provide interventions necessary to care for Mr. E effectively and ethically.
Code of Ethics
There are many ethical dilemmas that nurses often face while working.   The Arkansas
State Board of Nursing references the American Nurses Association code of ethics in relation to
the practice of nursing in Arkansas.   Within this code, provision 2.1 provides that a nurse’s
responsibility is to the “primacy of the patient’s interests” (American Nurses Association, 2005),
which means that the nurse’s primary commitment is to the wellbeing of Mr. E and his interest
in his care, including being an advocate for him when he cannot advocate for himself.   There are
also provisions for the nurse to be aware of questionable practice.   As written in provision 3.5,
the nurse must be aware of any unethical or illegal practice of care by any healthcare team
member, and is ethically obligated to report any improper practice (ANA, 2005).  
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