What makes a trusted professional is more than just their training and occupation. For an individual to be fully recognised as a professional in their field, they must adhere to specific guidelines and codes. In the healthcare field, these guidelines are there to protect patients and health workers and to uphold perception of healthcare workers and their professions in society. Firstly the concept of professional identity will be discussed. Secondly the agencies and associations that set guidelines for the nursing profession will be identified. Thirdly the way in which these guidelines effect the profession and care received by patients will be explored. Lastly the process in which authorities monitor the quality of care and service by professionals …show more content…
The code of professional conduct is provide the minimum standards of conduct for Australian nurses, to give the expectations of nurses and to give a basis for evaluation of conduct of nurses (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2008, p. 1). This document states many important standards to be followed. The first key guideline is that “nurses practise in a safe and competent manner” (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2008, p. 2). This statement outlines the importance of nurses continually maintaining competency improving knowledge and skills and acting within their scope of practice. The scope of practice is “based on each nurses’ education, knowledge, competency, extent of experience and lawful authority” (National Board of Australia, 2008, p. 2). This is critical in nursing as the patient may be at risk if a nurse conducts a procedure in which they are not fully trained to do. The emphasis on restricting actions to a scope of practice is aimed to prevent nurses from making mistakes that may harm the patient’s treatment or health. For example, an Enrolled Nurse without further accredited training, cannot administer medications intravenously whilst Registered Nurses can. “Nurses treat personal information obtained in a professional capacity as private and confidential” (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2008, p. 3) is another significant statement in the code of conduct. The principle of confidentiality with patients is shared by all health professionals and is supports government privacy legislation. This is aimed to protect the privacy of the patient and the trust between the patient and the healthcare workers. When it is necessary to disclose information to provide the best care, nurses should ask permission from the patient first. The relationship of trust
Professionalism in the workplace in many professions can be simplified into general categories such as neat appearance, interaction with clients, punctuality, general subject knowledge, and likability. In nursing, professionalism encompasses a much more broad and inclusive set of criteria than any other profession. Nurses specifically are held to a higher standard in nearly every part of their job. Nurses are not only expected to uphold what it seen as professional in the aforementioned categories, but they are also expected to promote health, wellbeing, and advocate for patients, but also continually provide the highest standard of care, demonstrate exemplary subject and procedural knowledge, and abide by the Code of ethics set forth by the American Nurses Association. This Code of Ethics includes the complex moral and ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, fidelity, honesty, and integrity.
Out of all the duties of a nurse, one of the most important duties is how the nurse honors the trust of a patient by maintaining the patient’s privacy and safeguarding the patient’s information confidentially. Privacy is the ability of the patient to make the choices in how to handle information regarding him or herself that other individuals are not aware of. As an example, prior to releasing the patient’s private information, the nurse must notify the patient on how their information will be handled and get consent from the patient
...r investigation and then devise a plan for best possible action recognizing the rights of the patient and its benefits followed by the application of the chosen intervention with positive outcome in mind (Wells, 2007). Delivery of excellent and quality of care at constant level (NMC, 2008) must be marked in any responsibilities and duties of the care provider to promote exceptional nursing practice
1. Legal, ethical and professional principle frameworks underpin all fields of nursing, and it is a requirement for all Registered Nurses to be competent and knowledgeable, act with integrity and maintain professional standards set out by Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC, 2015). Working with multidisciplinary teams within our profession, it is important to acknowledge and recognise the way in which all the professionals are guided by law and their independent regulatory bodies. The needs of the individual patient is to be considered by doctors and nurses alike, who share professional values and are set out in the respective codes of practice, The Code (NMC, 2015) and GMC (2013).
Nursing surrounds the concept of patient care physically, mentally and ethically. The therapeutic relationship that is created is built on the knowledge and skills of the nurse and relies on patient and nurse trusting one another. The use of nursing skills can ensure these boundaries are maintained, it allows for safe patient care. Professional boundaries are the line that nurses cannot cross, involving aspects such as patient confidentiality and privacy, ensuring legal aspects of nursing and the boundaries put in place are not breached. However, nurses accepting financial or personal gain from patient can also cross these professional boundaries. It is only through education in this area that the rights of patients can be preserved, as well as the nursing standards. Through education in areas such as confidentiality, boundaries can remain in tact and the patient care can remain within the zone of helpfulness.
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, 2010). The term ethics refers to the study of philosophical ideals 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. These provisions would include, personal relationships, primary care, nurse commitment, safety, patient rights, responsibility and accountability of the patient.
Which is very important for nurses or any medical professional to do in the healthcare profession. Nurses are receiving these patients in their most vulnerable state, nurses are exposed and trusted with the patients’ information to further assist them on providing optimum treatment. Keeping patient’s information private goes back to not just doing what’s morally right but also it also builds that nurse – patient relationship as well. We also have provision three that specifically taps on this issue as well, as it states: “The nurse seeks to protect the health, safety, and rights of patient.” (Nurses Code of Ethics,
NMC, 2010. The code: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives. [online] Available at: [Accessed 13 November 2013]
(9) United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery, and Health Visiting. (UKCC) (1992). Primary Health Care, Code of professional conduct for the nurse, midwife and health visitor. London: UKCC.8 (2)
As health care providers, nurses strive to instill confidence in their patients and their loved ones. A nurse is respectful to their colleagues as well as their patients. Nurses promote patients’ independence, patients can be confident in the knowledge that a nurse will do what is best for them, respecting their privacy and dignity. This means that a nurse does not share the patient information for personal reasons nor does the nurse get involved in a patients personal relationship if it is not medically relevant (NCSBN, 2011).
As a nurse, it is within your role to safeguard the right to privacy for individuals. To ensure that nurses are adhering to this, ethical strategies have been proposed and implemented from a legal and regulatory body.
Nursing and midwifery council (2008) The Code: standard of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives. London: Nursing and Midwifery council
It is through this identity that enables one to be recognized in the community and among other professions. However, the process of getting professional identity should be through an ideal way keeping in mind all the legal issues involved in the process. One undergoes through the process of education where he or she gains knowledge and skills in the field. He or she adheres to the rules and regulations that dictate the profession. Keeping all these requirements expected from the profession enables a registered nurse to gain a professional identity thus able to associate with other health care members and become recognized in the
...Council, M., & Federation, A. N. (2008). Codes of Professional Conduct & Ethics for Nurses & Midwives, 2008: Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Nursing Council of New Zealand. (2009). Code of conduct for nurses. Retrieved March 15, 2011, from http://www.nursingcouncil.org.nz/download/48/code-of-conduct-nov09.pdf