The patient should always be a first and foremost concern. The nurse must recognize the need for the patient to integrate their individual thoughts into nursing practice. Any conflict of interest, whether it belongs to external organizations or to the nurse`s habits or ideals that conflict with the work of a nurse, should be shared and addressed so as not to interfere with patient care. Collaborating with internal and external teams to promote the best patient care is a necessity. It is important to understand professional boundaries and how they relate to patient care outcomes. By collaborating within the discipline, maintaining the concept that health is a right for all individuals will open avenues for best practice. The nurse understands the obligation to further improve care options through constant learning and preparation. A nurse`s ability to practice in a variety of health care settings may include unusual situations that require ongoing diplomatic and advocacy measures. In this section of the NCLEX RN exam, you must demonstrate your knowledge and skills in ethical practice to: Given the importance of ethics and the protection of human rights in nursing practice, the American Nurses Association invites registered nurses to join the ANA President, Pamela F.
Cipriano, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, and ANA Executive Director Marla J. Weston. PhD, RN, FAAN, signing the commitment of health workers against torture. Ethics refers to standards of moral judgment and professional conduct. Nurses are accountable to patients, the public, employers and the profession as a whole. It is imperative that they have a thorough understanding of the various ethical, legal and professional issues they face during their careers. The steps in the ethical decision-making process, such as the problem-solving process, are as follows: The ethical principles to which nurses must adhere are the principles of justice, charity, non-malevolence, responsibility, loyalty, autonomy and sincerity. A “specific term that refers to a standard of care as well as the caregiver`s professional status. As explained earlier in this chapter, nurses may be reprimanded or have their license revoked if they do not properly comply with the Nursing Practice Act in the state in which they practice. Nurses can also be held liable for negligence, malpractice or breach of patient confidentiality.
Charity in care is not as intimidating as it seems. The ANA defines it as “actions guided by compassion.” Examples of benefits include helping a heart patient with a shower, maintaining side barriers to prevent falls, or providing medication quickly. NCSBN National Nursing Guidelines for Medical MarijuanaCare Guidelines for Patients Using Medical Marijuana Patients are not entitled to any harm. Non-malignancy requires nurses to avoid harming patients. [6] This principle is probably the most difficult to maintain. When life support is stopped or patients have decided to stop taking life-saving medications, the nurse is placed in a morally difficult position. Free resources to help you with your nursing studies! Express consent may be given in writing or orally. Implied consent can be presumed by a patient`s actions or used in an emergency situation (Pozgar 2005). Consent must be given voluntarily and never forced. Patients also have the right to withdraw their consent at any time, making it illegal to proceed.
The National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) HHPCO has a directory of acceptable living wills for each statue. If you need help writing your nursing essay, our professional nursing essay writing service is here to help! The American Nurses Association`s Code of Ethics, for example, includes elements that emphasize advocacy, collaboration with others, maintaining client safety, the dignity and worth of all persons, prohibition of discrimination, accountability, respect for patients` rights such as dignity, autonomy and confidentiality, and the provision of competent, safe and quality nursing care. As a nursing profession, standards should be established inside and outside work settings, requiring ethical care obligations and pointing out deviations from adequacy. It is important to understand the safety, quality and environmental aspects that support the best patient care outcomes. The current reality of patient care during COVID-19 has also pushed nurses to the limits of autonomy, equity and compassion. According to an article in the American Journal of Nursing, an August 2020 survey of 4,000 people (including 1,000 nurses) found that “the crisis has led to progress within the profession and accelerated changes in attitudes and expectations toward nurses.” The right to confidentiality has been upheld in court in several high-profile cases, including Hunter v. Mann [1974] QB 767, W v. Edgell [1990] Ch 359 and X v. Y [1988]. In the latter case, the Court held that “a physician is under an obligation not to voluntarily disclose information obtained in a professional capacity without the consent of his patient, except in exceptional circumstances” (under [23]).
These circumstances exist where there is a competing public interest and the case further emphasised that “cases may arise where disclosure may be justified in the public interest, such as a situation where failure to disclose appropriate information would expose the patient or another person to a risk of death or serious harm” (see [25]). In that case, Justice Rose reiterated that an AIDS case involved an important public interest, but also a fundamental right to individual confidentiality. While the public has an interest in publishing the case, this does not outweigh the right to confidentiality in the medical context, particularly with respect to an AIDS patient.