Hence, nurses have the responsibility to advocate patients and help them out. Nurses engaged in professional activities should have the manner that protects patients’ autonomy in order to advocate for patients. According to Mahlin’s article, “Individual Patient Advocacy, Collective Responsibility and Activism Within Professional Nursing Associations”, “Patient autonomy is an essential part of patient advocacy” (Mahlin, 2010). Every patient has the right to choose whether to be involved in planning their health plan or not, because patients have autonomy to make the decision. As nurses, we should seek available resources to help patients to formulate decisions to utilize their rights and achieve their expectations if they confront a dilemma or they have inadequate health knowledge.
In fact culture is the most influential factor in determining health beliefs and behaviors (Campinha-Bacote, 2003). Cultural competence involves being aware, sensitive, and knowledgeable in the diverse cultures that exist in the population. Health care providers need to not only embrace cultural diversity but must also strive for cultural competence in order to ensure that all patients receive the best care possible. Nurses spend the most time with their patients. Therefore, if nurses
Having the appropriate knowledge and the understanding about the culture allows the nurse to gain the respect and trust from the patient and the family. Both, the nurse and the patient can communicate easily and effectively to work towards improving the health. It has been proven that culturally competent care is directly related to positive patient outcomes. "Efforts to improve client outcomes and culturally centered care have been championed by the Joint Commission. The national accrediting body for hospitals was represented on the committee that developed the National Standards on Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services.
Thereby patients’ lives are guarded from stake of harm. Advantages of nursing theories are, they provide standardization of nursing whilst the nursing processeses are recognised as a problem solving approach. These theories also signify the individual as a whole hence personalised care is rendered. Other advantages would include expansion and development of nursing, positive effect on nursing students, professional and increased quality of care which is contributed by systematic approach. Rationale of work and having analytical knowledge on patients’ care are undeniable strenghths of nursing theories.
The intent of EBP is to improve the quality of the care that is delivered to the client. This increased knowledge, whether it is correct or incorrect, is a motivating factor for nursing professionals to have current and correct information available when working with clients in making healthcare decisions. Healthcare professionals, especially nurses, are the touch point of health care and are the key to cost effective quality care. To ensure that decisions are based on sound information nurses must utilize EBR. As technology and research in health care expands, EBP is becoming essential in delivering high quality patient care.
For example, question number six mentioned, “Emotional attachment to get in the way of good care.” (Hansten, 2009, pp. 175-176) I feel that is a question that is difficult to answer because a nurse needs to have an emotional attachment to connect. The reason we became nurses is because we care for others and we want to care for their health. We came into this field with an emotional attachment. 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.
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.
Reflection, critical thinking and analysis are important for enrolled nurse’s practice and education because it a matter of life and death for their patient and for their loved ones. So reflection has becomes the important concept in nursing and so as Critical Thinking ,which is skilled work that is not true everyone can naturally endowed with the ability to think clearly and logically - without learning how, or without practicing." (Alfred Mander 1947) .So on analysis plays the same part in nursing field. In order to completely understand reflective reasoning and personal development in relation to your development in the Nursing field one have to define the both terminology .Personal Development mean to conduct activities which increases awareness, which increase the potential which will finally improve the quality of life. While on the other hand reflective reasoning where we can apply learning and insight of others into their work.
DELEGATION A registered nurse (RN) has many responsibilities. One of the most important is delegation. The RN has the authority to delegate certain tasks in order to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their patients. Delegating tasks to others allows more time for the RN to focus on more critical aspects of patient care that only a RN can perform. Delegation is transferring a task from one person to another making them responsible for the task but the RN is still accountable for the outcome of that particular task.
Moral leadership in nursing is about professionalism, responsibility, accountability, and competency. Nurses have an obligation to preserve their patient’s values, beliefs and dignity, to assure optimal health care, personal well- being, and promote quality of life. In all aspect of nursing, nurses are role models, healthcare providers, patient advocates and are required to meet the needs of their patients. Which can be done by communicating openly and honestly, being fair and trustworthy, being proactive, and by putting patients first. Nurses are face with ethical dilemmas on a daily basic therefore, must examine their own personal and professional values and morals in order to maintain a caring and compassionate relationship with their patients.