Code Of Ethics And Standards Of Practice For Registered Nurses

As nurses we are often expected to abide by a certain set of professional rules and obligations, as well as performing duties that we must follow. The field of ethics influences how we should treat each other, how we should act, what we should do, and why. The ANA code of ethics is a useful tool that helps guide nurses in everyday life and practice. When we are faced with an ethical dilemma the nursing code of ethics will aide us in making an appropriate ethical decision as well as caring for our patients effectively. The code of ethics for nurses consists of nine provisions and the accompanying interpretive statements. “It emphasizes the important qualities and responsibilities of a nurse (Provisions 1-3), distinguishes the limits of obligation

As the nursing profession progresses throughout the years, its nature becomes more complex in meeting the professional standards and codes of ethics that are required by all nurses. The American Nurses Association has a specific code of ethics that each nurse should follow and adopt as their own beliefs. The public and the patients should be the priority when providing care in the healthcare setting. The knowledge and education that nurses’ gain is valuable and allows them to encourage health, avoid illness, restore health, and aid in coping for those who are all ill. (LeMone, pp.192) Given that the code of ethics is put into place, there are many registered nurses who violate these codes in various situations. The following will discuss

Provision 8.1 of the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics denotes that health is a universal right. The provision states, “the nurse collaborates with other health professionals and the public to protect human rights, promote health diplomacy, and reduce health disparities” (Lachman, Swanson, & Windland-Brown, 2015, p. 365). From chapter 1, the ethical theory that best fits provision 8.1 is utilitarianism. The ethical theory of utilitarianism theorizes “one should act so as to do the greatest good for the greatest number” (Baillie, McGeehan, Garrett, & Garrett, 2013, p. 4). This theory promotes a universal method because it signifies that even if a decision is made and does not benefit every single person; however, benefits most

One of the many roles of the nurse, in caring for their patient, is to advocate for the patient. The nurses in the clip did not exhibit this professional role, the nurses were hesitant in following the physician’s orders, but none of the nurses spoke up on the patient’s behalf. Nurses are often in the best position to communicate with team members and the patient’s family on behalf of the patient, because in most cases, the nurse provides the most interpersonal contact with the patient.

Nursing is a career that is governed by a set of ethical principles. The duties of a nurse consist of care and support and its important that nurses are aware of their professional ethics. These principles are put into place to uphold and maintain moral values in healthcare. The American Nurses Association (ANA) code of ethics for nurses consists of nine provisions, outlined in the Code of Ethics for nurses with Interpretive Statements. These provisions are constructed to blueprint the role and responsibilities of a nurse. The chosen provisions being discussed will refer to the three main principles of patient autonomy, patient confidentiality, and patient rights.

Healthcare organizations are committed to providing clients with quality service and experience while promoting safety, health, and healing. Nurses have the biggest impact in providing safe client care and are known for their commitment in improving or increasing client health. However, this ethical commitment may not always be met due to breakdowns in healthcare delivery. Deviations such as adoption of unsafe practices or behaviors can lead to sentinel events. Any disconnects or disruptions can be a detriment to client care. This paper will present recent cases of witnessed breakdowns of facility protocols that have led to adoptions of unsafe nursing practices, discuss its impact to healthcare, and how it has affected my personal perspective on the issue.

Mandatory overtime has become an increasing problem for nurses who work in many hospital settings. Mandatory overtime is defined as additional hours added to a nurse’s current shift, making the nurse feel as if it’s a threat of being fired or disciplinary action will be taken in some form if they refuse to stay and work. Extensive overtime studies have established and confirmed that there are serious dangers to both the nurse and the patient being cared for in all types of healthcare settings.

CNA Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses (2008) provides guidance in dealing with cases like this by explaining the core nursing values and responsibilities involved which are: a) providing safe, compassionate, competent and ethical care; b) promoting health and well-being; c) promoting and respecting informed decision-making, and d) Preserving dignity; e) maintaining confidentiality, f) promoting justice and g) being accountable. The first nursing value is always expected to be upheld in any case because it is their duty to provide care using appropriate safety precautions and preventing/minimizing all forms of violence (CNA, 2008). The collaboration of the nurses between the physician and Mr. C’s family has been evident since then. This therefore calls Mr. C’s nurses to be more compassionate about his situation and try to recognize where he is coming from as they build a trust-worthy relationship before judging him or jumping into conclusions like he does not want to live anymore. Even if he decides to withdraw from these potentially life-sustaining treatments, health care providers are still obliged to give him the care he need the best way they can up until the end of his life. The second nursing value, just like the first one, still calls nurses to still aim to promote or at least maintain Mr. C’s health and well-being to the highest possible level regardless of the path he had chosen for his life. This can be achieved by continuing to collaborate well with other

After all, hospitals and nursing facilities are required to have nurses around the clock, right? I totally understand this point of view. However, instead of mandating nurses to work overtime, have a back up agency to use to call on for help when shifts need covered. Some may argue that mandatory overtime is great because of the extra money being earned and incentives offered. Once a nurse is "burnt out", money doesn't mean much to him or her. They would rather go home to their families, sit down for dinner and have a goodnights sleep over any amount of money. Hospitals and nursing facilities argue that it cuts cost to mandate over time rather than hiring new employees. I agree with this statement to some extent. As long as mandatory overtime isn't being used often, it may cut some costs. Hospitals and nursing facilities have made this, over time, a standard of practice, so in the long run mandatory overtime is not saving any money. In reality, it is costing more. Nurses being paid time and a half for overtime, the increase in accidents from nursing errors, increase in sick days and more nurses quit so there is a need to hire new nurses. Whenever a new nurse is hired at a facility, that nurse needs to be trained. Each facility has their own protocol and the new nurse needs to be educated on that protocol, as well as simple things such as where supplies are kept, where

I chose to analyze provision three contained in the American Association Code of Ethics. Provision three explores a nurses daily duty as it relates to patient rights as well as safety and patient privacy. In addition to other healthcare related responsibilities a nurse is effectively, a valuable patient advocate who must work to ensure that patients are treated fairly and competently, not only from the nursing staff, but all caregivers. (American Nurses Association). If a situation concerning incompetent care from other healthcare providers should arise, the nurse must assess issue on behalf of the patient and initiate action to have the issue corrected.

According to Provision 8 of the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics, “The nurse collaborates with other health professionals and the public to protect human rights, promote health diplomacy, and reduce health disparities.” (American Nurses Association, n.d.). Therefore, nurses and other healthcare workers must set aside any preconceived notions about a populace in order to provide equal care amongst all populations. This includes patients who are HIV positive. Nurses and healthcare workers must ignore the stigma surrounding the disease and communicate effectively with these patients in order to assure prompt, compassionate treatment.

Many studies concluded that children's experience, rather than their age, determines their understanding of illness and disability. When they go through repeated treatment, that treatment experience enables children to understand the value of life and they demonstrate the moral and rational basis of wise decision making. Therefore, to test competence in the abstract without reference to the circumstances may be misleading (Lowden, 2002).

The ANA named 2015 the “Year of Ethics,” which is highly appropriate due to the ever changing advancements in genomics (http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/EthicsStandards/CodeofEthicsforNurses/Code-of-Ethics-For-Nurses.html). Ethics is a great concern regarding genetic testing because the testing may affect an individual’s quality of life. In the 5th vignette, Interpreting Risk: The Impact of Life Experience, we see the viewpoints of two female roommates. Lisa’s mother suffered from breast cancer and died at a young age. As a result, Lisa was left with the feeling that death from breast cancer is inevitable for her. Lisa wants to receive genetic testing and if she tests positive will not have children even though she wants children

There are many different careers which entail much more than just a particular degree from a post-secondary education program. Typically, all careers have a specific code and level of ethics which are incorporated into the daily responsibilities one is expected to perform in their chosen field. For the basis of this paper, I have chosen to write about the nursing code of ethics. Nursing has a professional code of ethics along with the level/employee behavior usually being currently attainable, meaning that the behavior expected is normally exhibited by individuals. (Manias 508). However, although nursing seems to require behavior that is “normally” exhibited and tends to be one of the most popular medical fields, there are numerous amounts of ethical issues which have emerged in this field of work since the few being noted in Florence Nightingale’s Notes on Nursing. (Ulrich et al. 2).