Code of Ethics for Nurses The American Nurses Association (ANA) established the code of ethics for nurses to serve as a foundation for practice and nursing standards. Nurses that enter the field are educated on the code of ethics and its provisions that make up the balanced foundation that is used to this day. The code of ethics is to be honored by every nurse, and every nurse should know their ethical obligation to their patients (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2015). This approach encompasses how to deliver safe patient care and sets a guideline for the nurse to carry out duties in a professional, responsible, and ethical manner (ANA, 2015). Nurses have a trusting relationship with patients, family members, and even the community. Accompanying this relationship comes other responsibilities and ethical issues that can arise at any time. Nurses are required to make rapid decisions and think quickly, but when faced with a dilemma nurses should still refer back to the code of ethics in their practice to provide optimal care and prevent any malpractice errors (ANA, 2015). The purpose of this paper is to identify ethical concepts from the weekly readings that are discussed in the code of ethics; and analyze a personal experience to identify ethical concepts that support or challenge ethical principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence, honesty, justice, and respect for autonomy. The ANA has nine provision but only four will be discussed that are relevant to the
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
In the medical field, there are set of rules medical professions have to follow, which is called The Code of Ethics. Once you go more in depth into the medical field, The Code of Ethics become more specialized. For example there are ones for Social Workers - “Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers”, ones for Sports Medicine, one for Psychologists -“Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct”, one for Public Health- “Principles of the Ethical Practice”, and one specifically for Nurses- “American Nurses Association code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements.” For the most part the “main ideas” are the same but the way the professions apply them and some of the “little”
There is no doubt about the importance of ethics in our life as well as in our clinical area as nurses to protect ourselves, our patients, and their families. There are nine provisions in code of ethics. What I am interested to examine is provision number 3” the nurse promotes, advocates for, and protects the rights, health, and safety of the patient”. This provision consists of 6 statements, which are protection of “the rights of privacy and confidentiality, protection of human participants in research, performance standards and review mechanisms, professional responsibility in promoting a culture of safety, protection of patient’s health and safety by acting on questionable practice, and patient protection and impaired practice”
I love your last statement “Patient care is a collaborative effort and we should feel like our opinions are important and valued as healthcare professionals”. Unfortunately, I feel like some team members don’t feel the same way. Your story sounds similar to mines, with your concerns being dismissed, which is truly unfortunate, because we are at the bedside I feel like we know when our patients just aren’t right. ANA code of ethics provision 6.3 states “nurses have the right to freely and openly advocate for themselves and their patients, without fear of retribution” (Fowler, 2015). In the NICU our patient cannot advocate for themselves or tell us what is wrong, it is nursing assessment that helps guide the necessary actions needed for those
According to this case, a patient, who has not told his family that he has been living with HIV and AIDS for 14 years, has been admitted to the hospital for pneumonia. Before he fell into a coma, he disclosed to doctors that he did not want his family to know that he has HIV or AIDS. However, he does have a durable power of attorney, his brother, who has arrived at the hospital. Unfortunately, whether the doctor decides to uphold the patient’s request to keep the patient’s information quiet or decides to divulge information about the patient’s HIV and AIDS to his durable power of attorney, the doctor will have to break an ethical responsibility.
This ethical dilemma happens in everyday life. A negative and positive solution to this dilemma is explored. Nursing ethics is a system of principles concerning the actions of the nurse in his or her relationships with patient, patients' family members, and society as a while. (Cherry 168)
The fourth, and the most important for my future practice as a Registered Nurse, interpretation statement states that the medical team
I found it very interesting that we came to the same conclusion for case study one. Deborah could go ahead and partake of the fraud her coworkers and supervisors are currently during, but the dilemma she is facing is too much for her. I Also like what you said about the consequences that could arise if Deborah decides to follow the footsteps of her colleagues. By following the nursing code of ethics she is looking at the patients well-being now and in the future. Deborah’s situation is a great example of doing what is best for the patient and preventing any harm that could arise from not following her duties as a nurse.
My thoughts about the role of the professional nurse embrace many behaviors and attitudes that can be recognize as belonging to any level nurse; accordingly, are depicted through our nursing code of ethics. Nonetheless, these behaviors include the privilege and responsibility to care for those in need with dignity and justice, regardless of ethnic background and or socioeconomic status. Hence, respect, integrity, accountability, responsibility, modesty, and altruism, are all behaviors that serve as a foundation for other behaviors that enhance the nurse’ ability to provide quality, patient centered care. However, with more education, comes an enhanced knowledge and better understanding of those values and attitudes that have motivated us
This is a situation, like many, the nurse is clearly not intentionally trying to harm anyone in any way. This sounds like the nurse was trying to help these individuals get more information about their illness through the Internet route via email. Its impossible to predict things like viruses, but there are things that she has done that have broken the code of ethics. We as nurses are always trying to educate our patients and this nurse thought of a great idea, but did not utilize the proper channels to do so.
They are to have good listening skills so as to be able to respond appropriately to her patients, and are able to instruct adults and students on different health issues, preventions and treatments. School nurses follow a code of ethics and deal with sensitive and/or confidential information in an appropriate manner. They are to be mature and trustworthy individuals, and should keep detailed written records.
Nursing code of ethics was developed as a guide in carrying out nursing responsibilities in a matter consistent with quality in nursing care and the ethical obligations of the profession (ANA, 2015). The term ethics refers to the study of philosophical ideas of right and wrong behavior (Olin, 2012). There is a total of nine provisions however, throughout this paper I will discuss provisions one through four and express how I plan to utilize these provisions as a new RN. These provisions would include, personal relationships, primary care, nurse commitment, safety, patient rights, responsibility and accountability of the patient.
In the journal it explains how the practice of nursing sets ethical standards for nurses around the world for human rights and establishing parameters for ethical practice for nurses within their work environment, profession, and among their coworkers. For nursing in the United States, the ANA set the code of ethics for nurses and their practice in 1950 built on a tradition of ethical standards begun in the late 19th century (Fowler, 2016). The ANA Code of Ethics remains a comprehensive and dynamic
s: The nursing and midwifery Board of Australia policy and its associated professionals expect nurses to do the following task; a) Nurses requires to respect the dignity, culture, ethnicity, and beliefs of people receiving care and treatment.