The American Nurses Association (ANA) Definition

enhance quality. Some of the nursing issues in health care reform are; access to care,

According to American Nurses Association (ANA), (2010) “the nurse promotes, advocates for and strives to protect the heath, safety and right of the patient” (p. 6). Nursing responsibilities should be acted at the highest standard and must be based on legal and ethical obligations.

In the field of nursing, the ANA Code of Ethics is designed to provide specific bylaws that will influence the practices of health care professionals inside the industry. However, there are different advocacy campaigns that will have an impact on how it is interpreted and applied. In the case of advocacy for population health, these issues mean that there could be moral dilemmas faced in the process (most notably: lifestyle choices and their impact on the individual). (Butts, 2012)

The main points of provision five of the ANA code of ethics are as follows: section 5.1, which is moral self-respect, suggests that nurses must care for themselves as much as they care for their patients. Nurses must do their best to maintain professional respect to themselves in regards of their competence and moral character. Section 5.2, which is professional growth and maintenance of competence, suggests that nurses must continue to self and peer evaluate themselves throughout their careers. Nurses must continue to learn current, up to date nursing practices through self, peer, and higher education. Section 5.3, which is wholeness of character, suggests that nurses must develop and take into consideration their own

The ANA is a professional organization that represents all the nation’s registered nurses. It helps the advancement of the nursing profession by issuing high standards of practice, and promoting the rights of nurses in the profession. The Code of Ethics is developed as a guide for carrying out nursing responsibilities, along with an appropriate quality in caring with the ethical obligations of the profession. Ethic has always been an essential part of nursing as nursing has a history of concern for the sick, injured. The Code of Ethics for Nurses serves these purposes: it serves

There are nine provisions included in the ANA code of ethics. The provisions can be broken into three categories. The first category is the nurse’s ethical responsibilities to her patient which is provisions one through three. Second is the nurse’s obligation to herself, provisions four through six. The third ethical requirement for nurses is related to their relationship to the nursing profession, community, nation, and world overall. This focus is summarized in provisions seven through nine [ (American Nurses Association, 2013) ].

At of the time of the incidence I did not meet Standard:7 of the ANA Scope and Standards of Practice completely. Though I believed, I was practicing ethically and met many of the competencies, such as maintained a “therapeutic relationships and professional boundaries by active listening which I allowed when I was interviewing the patient and also treated her with respect dignity, and compassion. I didn’t advocate for my patient strongly enough to ensure her safety. Professional collaboration would have also improved my patient outcome, so, Standard:10 was not meet. (Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice , 3rd Edition, 2015) ” Collaboration, by not using the abilities of all members of the team to optimize attainment of desired outcomes.”

American Nurses Association (ANA) Standards of Professional Performance explains how all registered nurses do their work and activities consistently according to their professions that promote the wellbeing of their patients and communities (ANA, 2010a). The standards provide a mechanism to patients that they are been taken good care of and that the nurses know exactly what to do so as to provide high-quality care and the measures are in place to determine whether nursing care meets the standards. These activities are related to performance like ethics, quality of practice, education, communication, resources, leadership, environmental health, professional practice evaluation, and evidence-based practice and research. Registered nurses are responsible for their professional actions to themselves, their patients, their peers, and the community at large.

With the ANA support in March of 2010 President Obama proposed the Health Care Reform Act to help assure individuals better, high-quality, and affordable health care insurance coverage. ("Health care reform in the United States", 2010, p.1). "The health care is a human right, and will continue to fight on behalf of nurses and their patients to ensure that this is achieved" (Ana: Ensuring nurses, paragraph, 1). By attending and speaking at public health care events, being involved with other stakeholders like; Health Reform Dialogue (HRD) group, and along with staying up to date and in contact with the Congress and Capitol Hill the ANA shows it's involvement to achieving the goal that the health care reform act insures. Stakeholders and other health care professional organizations gather to speak about " health coverage, disease prevention, and increasing funds for education. These ideas are now being projected to the media and Congress (Ana: Ensuring nurses).

The American Nurses Association (ANA) is a full-service professional organization that symbolizes the interests of registered nurses through its constituent and state nurses associations. The ANA implements the nursing profession by raising high standards of nursing practice, honoring the rights of nurses in the work field, promoting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by pushing the Congress and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public. Their mission statement is, “Nurses advancing our profession to improve health for all.” Some of ANA’s main focuses are reformation of the health care system so that it delivers primary health care in the communities, growing roles for

The American Public Health Association, or the APHA, is a professional health organization for public health professionals.The APHA prioritizes building public health infrastructure, ensuring the right to health care, and creating health equity. The mission of the APHA is to improve the health of the public and achieve equity in health status and the vision is to create the healthiest nation in one generation. In order to work towards their mission and vision, the APHA advocates for public health laws and for funding of public health projects. The APHA also champions prevention and partners with communities to provide health education. In addition, the APHA publishes the American Journal of Public Health and The Nation's Health newspaper. They also host their Annual Meeting and Exposition where they discuss the latests public health research. They have many different events including National Public

One thing that I notice is that all these qualities describe in the ANA definition of nursing can only work if there is communication. I think that when there is a breakdown of communication between staff members and patient the ANA definition of nursing no longer holds true. There are times when I call the physician for orders but I get no answer. I leave a message and note it on my notes. Then I hope and pray that they call me before change of shift. It’s almost unrealistic to achieve that type of expectation on a daily basis. In the real world nothing ever goes 100%

American Nurses Association represented since 1974 represents as (ANA) goal- “improvement of the healthcare system in the United States”

Respectively, the American Nurses Association (2010c) currently defines nursing as “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” (p.10).

There are several Public Health Professional Associations/Organizations that can be accessed whether a student or MPH (Masters in Public Health) graduate. The number one organization is APHA (American Public Health Association) who has services like: membership, newsletters, a professional journal, meetings, and webinars (American Public Health Association, 2015). I cannot afford to join now, but will upon graduation, utilizing as much as possible on the site. They also have internships and fellowships, but they all take place in Washington D.C. Nevertheless, students and graduates can take advantage of the job search and sign up for job alerts. I will also follow them on social media and LinkedIn.