Ethics And Nursing Profession

Ethical Practice In Nursing Profession

Mother like Behaviour
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 American Nurses Association(ANA) developed first Code of Ethics or the guidelines for nursing profession in the 1950's. It expresses the primary goals, understanding of values of profession and duties of the nursing professionals. It also learns them their commitment and responsibility to the society. The Code of Ethics has changed with time.
 There are nine provisions for the guidance of nursing profession in the Code of Ethics introduced by American Nursing Association(ANA).

 Provision-1 expresses that the nurses can pay high respect to all individuals. They can maintain high dignity in service and communication. Their proper respect should be payed to the patient and their families and close relatives. Provision-1 also learns them to understand the guidelines- how they can communicate, deal and maintain professional relationship with co workers and patient families.

Provision-2 expresses that the nurses' first commitment is basically related to patients. The nurse can find out the need of the patients. No personal interest, conflicting habits and behavior would be compromised to the care of patients. They can provide the best patient care individually or in group(within or out of the organization). They can understand and be conscious regarding professional boundaries.

Provision-3 implies that nurses are liable to promote and protect the safety, health and rights of the patients. They have to maintain all types of privacy. They must understand and be conscious regarding where his/her performance is matching to the institutional standard scale and consciously make further development. He/she would be competent in clinical and documentation ability. High level of competency can help him/her in career development.

 Provision-4 implies that the nurse has the responsibility, accountability and authority for nursing practice. Their decisions would be related to well plan and thoughts. Their delegation of activities must be done with respect for action and result.

Provision-5 implies that a nurse must take care for self and others. He/she can promote health and safety. Integrity would be the subject of his/her character and maintain the competency level. He/she will be very conscious regarding personal or professional growth.

Provision-6 implies that it is the essential thing for a nurse to establish, maintain and improve ethical environment.He/she has to understand the safety, and effective environment which is used to get the best patient care outcomes.

Provision-7 implies that nurses'education would be related to research oriented and their task would be related to health policy and professional standards. Nurse committees and board members are encouraged to maintain professional standards.

Provision-8 implies that the nurse can make collaboration with public, professionals to protect human rights and promote healthcare.

Provision-9 implies that nurses coming under an umbrella of a committee or organization may spread the nursing values. They can maintain the integrity of the profession and continue the social justice.
(Source: ANA (2015), Code of Ethics with interpretative statements, Silver spring, MD)

 Ethical codes of conduct are very important in nursing profession. International Council of Nurses (ICN) adopted the international code of ethics for nurses in 1953. The two codes are prepared by American Nurses Association (ANA) and Canadian Nurse Association (CAN). The ethical principles would get success if the nurses follow in their practical life. The principles are justice, beneficence, non- harming, accountability, loyalty, in-dependency, true fullness.

Justice:It is followed by ethical character. According to Plato, justice means one can perform the best that is best suited to his ability. In case of nursing, justice is related to the following principles, i) distributive justice which is based on the principle of fairness, ii) impartiality, iii) unbiased treatment.

Beneficence:It describes a practice of welfare of any research fellow or participant. It follows the following principles
1.One should not practice or provoke malevolence activities.
2.One should prevent and protest against malevolence.
3.One should eliminate malevolence.
4.One should practice benevolence.

Non- harming:It implies that the activities would be harmless. He/she never do intentionally harm.

Accountability:He/she has to perform carefully their assigned tusk or job attaining the schedule time or further to fulfill the goal.

Loyalty:It implies that his/her way of work will be very loyal. He/she can keep his/her oaths, do as it is expected from them and perform duty with reliability.

In-dependency:It implies that the first priority of the patients would be given. He/she has the ability to make own decision. In case of emergency to tackle the situation the ethical decision would be acceptable.

True fullness:He/she will maintain the principle of truth telling. He/she will properly pay respect to the persons and patients. His /her choice would be very balanced and will take decision on significant information.

 In conclusion it is to be said that the patients and the society expect high level of service, devotion, sincerity and ethical behavior from a nurse. The infants expect the security and motherly behavior from them as they can sleep deeply. The code of ethics for nursing are the guidelines to make them competent, responsible, make conscious regarding patient rights and help to be ready to practice the profession under ethical consideration.

Deep Sleep
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