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Developing professionalism in the workplace
Professionalism in the context of public health
Professionalism in the healthcare setting
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Nurses are legally and ethically responsible for protecting their patients from harm that can be predicted or anticipated (Brous, 2014). It is because of this duty that nurses have the "right to accept, reject or object
in writing to any patient assignment that puts patients or themselves at serious risk for harm" (American Nurses Association Nursing World, 2009). This is ideal but not necessarily the reality. There may be a
disconnect between what nurses perceive to be the right thing to do and what they are told to do. In some clinical areas, there can be as many as 15-20 patients assigned to one nurse with increased patient
acuity. Nursing competence and proficiency is crucial in these environments, especially in acute care. Nurses
may have expressed their concerns to their supervisors but feel that they are not being heard which can lead to complacency and acceptance of the status quo. It is, therefore, imperative that the legal principle of respondeat superior is upheld so as to share or transfer culpability from the nurse to the healthcare facility (Anselmi, 2012). The supervisors should have assessed acuity of patient care and delegated or assigned patients appropriately to ensure patient safety. In keeping with this principle, staff nurses should be cautious in delegating tasks to unlicensed personnel, making sure that they have observed these individuals performing the task under their supervision prior to letting them perform the skill on their own. Nurses are also encouraged to procure malpractice insurance especially advanced practice nurses, it is even mandatory in some states. Vigilance for doing what is right and safe is something that must be instilled in the minds of healthcare professionals.
The first provision of the American Nurses Association’s (ANA) “Code of Ethics” states, “ The nurse, in all professional relationships, practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth and uniqueness of every individual, unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of health problems.” The second provision states, “The nurse’s primary commitment is the patient, whether the patient is an individual, family, group, or community” (Fowler, 2010). As nurses we need to respect the autonomy and allow for the patient to express their choices and concerns. We also need to provide them with support by giving them knowledge and understanding so they
Nurses have a considerable amount of responsibility in any facility. They are responsible for administering medicines and treatments to there patient’s. While caring for there patients, nurses will make observations on patient’s health and then record there findings. As well as consulting with doctors and other healthcare professionals to plan proper individual patient care. They teach their patients how to manage their illnesses and explain to both the patient and the patients family how to continue treatment when returning home (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014-15). They also record p...
As a nurse we are responsible for the safety and overall health promotion of our patients. Competency in the nursing field is what ensures patient safety and decreased hospital acquired injury. Continued competence ensures that the nurse is able to perform efficiently and safely in a constantly changing environment. Nurses must continuously evaluate their level of skill and find where improvement needs to be made in order to keep up to date with the expected skill level set by their
Patient safety is always the primary goal any hospital, nursing unit, and health care team. As the main caregiver, a nurse’s responsibility is to keep the patient safe, and free from injuries while the patient is hospitalized (Smith, 2012). The definition of nursing competency lack a direct universal definition, and technique and ways nursing supervisor and managers can evaluate patient care that was provided by a novice nurses (Smith, 2012). As of now, there is not an exact avenue that can help a novice or new graduate nurses to transition into a competent nurse so that patient care is not compromised (Smith, 2012). The author has chosen the topic of Roger’s nurse competency because nurse competency has been the greatest challenges
In the medical profession, doctors and nurses run into ethical dilemmas every day whether it be a mother who wants to abort her baby or a patient who has decided they want to stop cancer treatment. It is important for the nurse to know where they stand with their own moral code, but to make sure they are not being biased when educating the patient. Nurses are patient advocates, it is in the job description, so although the nurse may not agree with the patient on their decisions, the nurse to needs to advocate for the patient regardless.
The nursing profession is a profession where people put their trust in you to provide care that is not only effective, ethical, and moral, but safe. Not all health situations are simple or by the book. Not all hospitals have the same nurse-patient ratios, equipment, supplies, or support available, but all nurses have “the professional obligation to raise concerns regarding any patient assignment that puts patients or themselves at risk for harm” (ANA, 2009). When arriving at work for a shift, nurses must ensure that the assignment is safe for not only the patients, but also for themselves. There are times when this is not the situation. In these cases, the nurse has the right to invoke Safe Harbor, because according the ANA, nurses also “have the professional right to accept, reject or object in writing to any patient assignment that puts patient or themselves at serious risk for harm” (ANA, 2009).
According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), (2010) “the nurse promotes, advocates for and strives to protect the health, safety and rights of the patient” (p. 6). Nursing responsibilities should be acted upon at the highest standard and must be based on legal and ethical obligations. Healthcare provider’s perception and judgment of the patient’s well being, as well as taking into account the rights of the patient in every action, is one of the key elements in nursing practice. International Council of Nurses (ICN) (2006) states “The nurse at all times maintains standards of personal conduct which reflect well on the profession and enhance public confidence” (p. 3).
Recent developments in standard of care and professional relationship with patients have made law fundamental to the study and practice of nursing. At every stage of patients care, law helps bring up to date nursing practice and it is essential that nurses understand the legal and ethical implications of law in their nursing profession (Griffith and Tengrah, 2011). The purpose of this essay is to discuss the concept of consent in relation to the role of the nurse. This will aim at demonstrate ethical and legal implication of consent on nursing practice and professional working. In the Code (2008, cited in Griffith and Tengrah, 2011) the Nursing and Midwifery Council set standards for nursing professional to follow. Among the rules is the requirement of nurses to obtain consent before care is given.
The study from the author, uses a scoring system to determine patient acuity. The most applicable reseach model is the TEAMS acuity tool (Thomasos et al., 2015). This tool was used by evaluating the needs of the patients, scoring them from low to high acuity based on their needs during admission and hospitalization (Thomasos et al., 2015). The concept of evaluating acuity throughout the patient’s hospitalization, can help monitor their recovery process and determine if their needs are improving or not. Furthermore, once acuity of the patient is established, their acuity is displayed on a whiteboard next to the patient’s identification (Thomasos et al., 2015). This is essential for the issue, as nurses in the next shift will be aware of the changes to a patient’s health and needs (Thomasos et al., 2015). In connection to the issue, utilizing the acuity tool creates a continuation of prioritizing care as acuity assessments determines the level of needs a patient
The major concern for registered nurses regard’s the nurse’s health and well being. Safe staffing levels are continuing to become more of a problem. The U.S is expected to experience a shortage of nurses as the “Baby Boomers” age and the need for health care grows (Rossester, 2014). This shortage is causing some health organizations to work with minimal amounts of nurses. This is affecting the nurse’s ability to provide safe care due to fatigue and injury. This shortage is also resulting in a dramatic increase in the amount of mandatory overtime, which often means that nurses stray from face-to-face patient care and can produce an increase in the amount of medical errors (American Nurses Association,
As a nurse, we must know right from wrong and hold true to our judgments on certain issues. Therefore, nurses must
The American Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Nurses has five elements that pertain to the Principle of Autonomy. Each individual element applies to “respect individual persons” (Baillie, McGeehan, Garrett T, M., Garrett R. M., 2013, p.33). In Chapter 2 of the Health Care ethics: Principles and problems text, it discusses thouroghly the consent of an individual to make their own decisions regarding their health and future requests of care. As a nurse or within all heath care professions, we must treat each individual patient with care, respect, and to remain mindful to the patient regarding any aspect of their lives. In the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses, it explains ways of maintaining the empathy required in the health field. It further discusses that the respect for human dignity must be a priority, relationships to patients must remain neutral, the severity of the situation, the right to self-rule, and the professionalism that must be upheld by the nurse and their associates.
In conclusion, there are numerous legal and ethical issues apparent in the nursing practice. Nurses should study and be as informed as they can with ethics and legality within their field in order to ensure no mistakes occur. Ethical issues vary based on patient’s views, religion, and environment. Nurses are influenced by these same views, but most of the time they are not the same as the patients. As a nurse we must learn to put the care of our patients and their beliefs, rights, and wishes before our own personal
It is necessary to explain what clinical skills are and why they are essential in ID (Intellectual Disability) nursing. For the purpose of this assignment the focus will be on a traditional skill of care planning and a non-traditional skill, accessible communication. These skills combined, give a more in depth understanding on the role of the RNID (Registered Nurse Intellectual Disability) in the overall care of a person with ID. Maintaining competence is an integral part of the role of the RNID. Competence in this context can be described as a holistic integrated approach when caring for an individual with ID (Gonczi 1994). RNIDs use a nursing process such as the bio psychosocial approach when looking at the overall needs of a person. Realising that all aspects of a person such as the biological, psychological and sociological are interlinked ensures that all needs of an individual with an ID are met. Clinical competence is a necessary component of nursing and the NMBI formerly known as An Bord Altranais (2005) is the governing body in Ireland. According to Gleeson (2008) the development of skilled clinical practice is at the centre of nurse education. Two recent reports are influential as regards the role of the RNID in the overall care of a person with ID and they are the IDS-TILDA (Intellectual Disability Supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing) ( McCarron et al. 2011) and Strengthening the Commitment –The Report of the UK Modernizing Learning Disabilities Nursing Review 2012. Reference will be made to these reports as the assignment progresses.
The nurse educator competencies have significant impact on the nursing profession. Well prepared educators could influence curriculum and program development to produce well prepared graduates (Halstead, 2007, p. 13). Upon reading the nurse educator competencies, one of the competencies required to facilitate learning is that the nurse educator needs to demonstrate interest in and respect for learners and establishing relationship with students (Halstead, 2007, p. 18). The reason it struck me is that I was thinking about my student period, those teachers those who conveyed encouragement, confidence, assisted in freedom of expression had greatest impact in my nursing career.