Nursing At Its Best: Competent And Caring

Values in Nursing

A personal value not only represents deeply held beliefs, it is considered one of the highest priorities; it is what drives actions. The values of a nurse are a reflection of aspirations, inspirations, and the need to help other human beings flourish. In the journal article

“Nursing at its Best: Competent and Caring” (2011), Rhodes, Morris, & Lazenby discussed

“the need for nurses to relinquish the images of ‘angels in white.’” A solid foundation of ethics must be in place for the nurse so that the overwhelming, outside pressures within the health care system is unable to deter them from their commitment as providers. Nurses must be able to resolve conflicts between values and that of actuality within health care. “Moral

Ethical values are inseparable components of the profession of nursing. As nurses, we must be aware of our values; they are essential to the constant changes in our role as healthcare providers. The most ideal values, the foundation of the nursing profession, I believe, are: Altruism, autonomy, dignity, social justice, and trust.

Altruism

An altruistic nurse is caring, compassionate, and generous. The nurse makes decisions with the patients and their families, with their best interest in mind. The nurse is the advocate for their patient, they are, their voice. The patient is kept well-informed by their nurse. The altruistic nurse not only ensures the patient safety, but is also committed to ensuring the best care is given at all times.

Autonomy

Patients have a right in their own decision making; they have the right to accept, refuse, and question treatments, interventions, and their care. The nurse is chargeable with giving appropriate and sufficient information to their patients. The nurse is an advocate, the heart of all communications in the health care delivery system. We, as human beings, as patients, have a need to feel in control of our own behaviors. We have a need for competence and to feel understood and cared for by others. By supporting a patient’s psychological needs, by advocating “patient-centered” care, we guide individuals to take control of their own goals in their

Respecting human dignity is perhaps the most meaningful of nursing values. At the core of nursing is being respectful of a patient’s beliefs, of their instinctive values; it is highly appreciated by patients. Patients are vulnerable to loss of dignity. I define dignity as "public recognition of self-worth." At its simplest, dignity for me says that individuals have many roles and hold many responsibilities; they are never only the patient. To treat a patient with dignity is to acknowledge that my actions. Dignity is the recognition of a commitment to not only the patient, but the person.

Social Justice. Persons have to right to equal access of heath care services; they are treated

Regardless of economic status, cultural and/or religious beliefs, and social status. A person’s health is a necessity for them to flourish and thrive. As nurses, as advocates, we must uphold fairness and equality within health care. Nursing responsibilities do not stop when our shift ends. Nurses are an integral part to social reform and collectively can work towards bringing about social change, and therefore, justice.

Trust. Nurses must be honest not only in their words but by their performance in