The Nursing Code of Ethics covers respect and dignity in relationships with patients and colleagues. The nurse’s primary commitment is to the patient. The nurse advocates for privacy and confidentiality of the patient and is responsible for reporting unsafe practice. He or she is expected to be responsible and held accountable for his actions, including delegation of tasks. Nurses must be of a high integrity, have self-respect, be willing to grow professionally and educationally and have a strong moral fiber.
In my work role I also have a responsibility to provide a duty of care to all patients receiving care. This is `The legal obligation to safeguard others from harm while they are in your care, using your services or exposed to your activities`. (Collins 2015) I am required to work to an excellent standard and quality of care, adhering to my organisations policies in my everyday practice. The trust value that I meet are; `We put our patients at the centre of everything we do’ `We focus on our people’ `We involve our people in making decisions’ and `We deliver excellence’ (Trust values booklet.) I am expected to ensure that all patients are treated fairly and with dignity and respect, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and diagnosis, and always act in the best interests of the individual whilst allowing them to be as independent as possible.
As nurses, we have an important role as patient advocate. There is no doubt that patients need nurses’ care and support, therefore, they expect the nurses to meet their demands and protect their best interests. As one of the patient’s most trustworthy healthcare providers, nurses are expected to advocate for all patients regardless of their condition. Hence, nurses should advocate patient’s rights through the way of maintaining a safe environment, which includes the protection of confidential information. According to Taylor, Lillis, LeMone, and Lynn’s book Fundamentals of Nursing, “Nurses should respect patients’ will and be loyal to them at any time as well as carefully evaluate the competing claims of the patient’s autonomy” (Taylor p.103).
Third the nurse is required to make all patient decisions with fairness, this is called justice. Fourth the nurse must also make sure he/she is always honest with the patient and that the patient is any informed of changes in their plan of care or medications, this is veracity (Finkelman, 2012). Nurses may be faced with many different ethical dilemmas while providing care, even many in just one day. Examples of some ethical dilemmas nurses may face are those concerning personal beliefs, religious beliefs, patient rights, truth
I will continue to treat my patients how I would like to be treated and show them the respect they deserve being under my care. Every nurse is different in how they treat and care for our patients. We all have procedures and guidelines to follow by as a health care professional, but we use our own instincts in other areas of care. Another question that came to mind was question number three. It states, “Quality nursing care results from strictly adhering to policy and procedure.” (Hansten, 2009, pp.
Standards of Practice Case Study Dawn M Fritts Western Governors University Abstract Nursing is a profession that is highly respected by the public because of the ethical behaviors that all nurses are expected to uphold. The American Nurses Association Code of Ethics stipulates the appropriate behaviors that all nurses must strive to attain and apply to every patient in every interaction. Nurses are expected to be an advocate for their patient both when they are able to make their own healthcare decisions and when they are not capable of making those decisions. Patients expect the nurse to be able to understand what is going in their care and provide them with the information that they need to make a well-educated decision about their care. Standards of Practice Case Study State Regulations and Nursing Standards WAC 246-840-700, Standards of Nursing Conduct or Practice, section 3C states that, “the registered nurse and licensed practical nurse act as client advocates in health maintenance and clinical care.” (Washington State Legislature 2010).
The ANA represents nurses and stands for their rights. The Code of Ethics has been developed and changed over time to keep up with progress in the field as well as with interpretation of the codes. It is something that explains a nurse’s obligation and duties. This Code of Ethics is a guide of conduct. This guide should be strictly observed by nurses and nursing students so they can make proper judgments and give ethical treatment to all persons under his/her care.
RUP 1 Project Western Governors University Professional Roles and Values In this paper I will provide insight into my personal practice and manner in which I present care. I will supply a look at the sources that influence and guide my daily practice; and, the ethical standards that direct me in practice. State Board vs. Nursing Organizations Board members are appointed to their positions by the governor; whereas, Nursing Organizations such as, The American Nurses Association (ANA), have elected members. The Board of Nursing is designed to set statues, maintain structure and provide discipline for the professional nurse.
.This belief system aligns well with a nursing profession that I define as a profession that provides compassionate care and promotion of healing for ill and injured individuals, education and advocacy for clients and families, collaboration of care with other professionals for optimal outcomes, and health promotion and prevention for well individuals. Theory Description I believe that my core personal beliefs and values are directly reflected in my philosophy of nursing. My values of security and family are reflected in patient centered care. My values of God as the guiding force in my life and kindness are reflected in compassionate care and my values of accountability and life-long learning are reflected in competent care. Following is a description of the main components of the framework that guides my practice: Purpuse I strive to provide patient-centered care that is non-judgmental to all those in need regardless of race, religion, financial status, or lifestyle choices.
Nightingales theories of environment and sanitary conditions have influenced my professional practice as well as modern day nursing. Nightingale’s theory focused on altering the patient's environment in order to affect change in his or her health. (Nursing Theory 2013) Each time I work I prepare to give care following basic sanitary and clean, hands on care, just as Nightingale would have. Today nursing procedures are guided by the fact that they need to be either clean, or sterile technique. This includes making sure the patients environment is clean and sanitary, just how Nightingale would have wanted.