Nurses need to be aware of the extent of their responsibilities and determine if they are willing to take on those responsibilities. Collegian presents a framework for nursing responsibilities in which seven areas are designed to promote the safety and quality of health care. xxxiii Kleiman, p. (2007). Revival of the humanistic imperative in nursing education. Pedagogical perspectives in nursing. Number 8, p. 36. iv Nursing and Midwifery Council (2010) Standards for Pre-Registration of Nursing Education. Nursing and Midwifery Council, London, p. 17. 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. In addition to legal considerations, there are also ethical guidelines for care. The Nurses` Code of Ethics with Interpretive Statements or “the Code” is an important tool for nurses now and in the future. While the core values of care do not change, the Code is regularly updated to reflect changes in the structure, funding and delivery of health care. It helps nurses ensure that care is always respectful, humane and dignified. These values are often taken for granted by nursing, but are often challenged by gaps in health care in the United States and negative social determinants of health. The beginnings of nursing ethics date back to the late 19th century. At the time, ethics was thought to include virtues such as physician loyalty, high morality, and obedience. [3] Since that early period, nursing has evolved, and nurses are now part of the health care team advocating for patients. The first formal code of ethics to guide the nursing profession was developed in the 1950s. Developed and published by the ANA, it guides nurses in their daily practice and sets out the main goals and values of the profession.
Its task is to succinctly explain the ethical obligations and duties of each person entering the nursing profession. It provides a non-negotiable ethical standard and is the expression of one`s own understanding of commitment to society. The Code of Ethics has been revised over time. The current version represents technological advances, societal changes, the expansion of nursing practice into advanced practice roles, research, education, health policy and administration, and creates and maintains healthy work environments. [3] To avoid being sued for negligence or malpractice, it is essential that nurses and nursing students follow the scope and standards of care of practice set out in their state`s nursing practice law. the American Nurses Association; and employer policies, procedures and protocols to avoid the risk of losing their care licence. Examples of breaches of duty by caregivers that may be considered negligence include:[4] Nursing ethics revolve around the concept that care is collaborative, so patients have an inherent right to physical autonomy whenever possible, which includes a human rights component and the need to allow informed consent or denial of consent. The law of informed consent underpins the ethical notion of autonomy and defines the minimum standard of behaviour accepted by the community. xxxii Compliance with legislation is mandatory, while respect for ethical notions of autonomy must be applied at the personal level in nursing practice. In the United Kingdom, for example, the development of the Mental Capacity Bill underscores the public`s belief that patients have the right to make their own treatment decisions.
On the other hand, the Human Fertilization and Embryology Act of 1990 is strictly enforced by the courts, for example in the interpretation of the word “embryo”, which limits autonomy on a legal basis. There are also conflicts within ethics and autonomy, for example, the issue of parental choice in the “sibling rescue” debate may not be compatible with the overall societal benefit, including the ethical duty to act kindly towards all children, including future children.xxxiii These are particularly sensitive issues that require subjective personal judgment on the part of the nurses involved. In general, nurses must comply with patients` wishes, even if they personally disagree, and ensure that all clients are treated fairly and equally in the interests of equity, for example in terms of the allocation of hospital resources and time spent per patient.xxxiv Legal and ethical issues are common in health care and particularly in nursing practice. where nurses have one-on-one contact with patients on a daily basis. Ethical issues range from organ donation to genetic engineering, assisted suicide, denial of treatment in end-of-life care or simple procedures requiring consent. Many nurses have no formal training in legal and ethical issues and are therefore often not qualified to answer these questions when they arise in the medical setting.xxxix While there are legal, ethical, and professional guidelines that dictate the behavior of professionals, this requires on-the-job training and the ability to be aware of the risks of making a personal decision about a patient. Nurses need to be guided in learning ethics in their profession to ensure mistakes do not occur. Because nurses have daily contact with patients in dynamic environments, ethical issues vary depending on patient profiles, developments in medical technology, and healthcare specialties. Awareness of ethical issues involves rational reflection on the actions to be taken in certain scenarios and adherence to the principles that guide this behavior. Nurses are influenced by professional, personal, cultural, social and political factors. The core responsibility of all physicians remains constant to promote health, act in the best interests of the patient, prevent disease, eliminate suffering, and extend services beyond the individual to their families and communities. Nurses need to develop an understanding of dignity in care and develop the skills necessary to make people feel comfortable and dignified in the care they receive.
Lack of dignity in care can leave patients hopeless or embarrassed and cause unnecessary suffering. Dignity is a fundamental human right and should be a top priority in all care activities. In contrast, nursing ethics focuses on the rights and well-being of patients, the safety and quality of the health environment, and the public health needs of the community. Ultimately, the arbiter of what is ethical in any health situation is the caregiver in consultation with the patient. Ethical decisions are as integral to patient care as clinical and technical decisions. Do you have a degree of 2:1 or higher in nursing or health care? In addition to the high ethical principles in nursing described above, nurses must adhere to a code of ethics. 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. There are three main duties for nurses, among many others, which are the duty of autonomy, confidentiality and the duty of care to all patients. i These duties are complemented by the principles of charity, i.e. to promote or do good and act in the best interests of patients, and non-malevolence, i.e. to avoid harm. ii These are professional obligations that become legal obligations if laws or guidelines are violated in the course of practice. In 2001, a study found that there was a need to provide more guidance on ethical dilemmas within the health professions following the increase in the number of legal cases and inquiries from the public.iii As a result, various Clinical Ethics Boards (CECs) and Research Ethics Boards (REBs) have been established in the UK to provide comprehensive ethical support. Ever-changing values in the fields of health, behavioral sciences and society mean that physicians must be aware of new ethical issues for the medical sector and learn how to respond appropriately.
Many hospitals, medical centers, and other health care facilities have multidisciplinary ethics committees that meet as a group and resolve ethical dilemmas and conflicts. Nurses should contact ethicists and their institution`s ethics boards if such ethical resources and mechanisms are in place to address ethical concerns and dilemmas.
