Analysis of Nursing Care in Regards to the Laws, Standards and Ethics

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Analysis of Nursing Care in Regards to the Laws, Standards and Ethics Analysis of Nursing Care in Regards to the Laws, Standards and Ethics The definition of nursing will vary from person to person; as a nurse there is one definition that summarizes it best. “Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations” (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2012, p. 1). As nurses we must practice our care with honesty, dignity, respect and integrity. We must follow the laws and standards set forth by our states and the nursing governing agencies. As nurses we must also use ethics to provide sound care to our patients. The ANA has set forth a set of standards of nursing practice, including six standards of practice and ten standards of professional performance for nursing professionals to follow. The standards are the foundation of what I use to guide my decisions of care. When caring for a patient I follow these steps of assessment, diagnosis, outcomes identification, planning implementation and evaluation. Working on an orthopedic floor in the hospital I am employed by, I am very thorough with my assessment of patients. This assessment is especially important in the post-operative setting where frequent patient assessments are crucial. “The extensive nature of the surgery and the older age and multiple comorbidities of many patients undergoing arthroplasty mean that it is important that nursing staff carry out observations regularly, until the patient is considered stable” (Walker, 2012, p.18). I work diligently to identify the diagnoses or problem and then establish a plan of care for the patient. Throughout the day I work to implement

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