Code of Ethics

Nursing encompasses various roles, inclusive of providing beneficial care, supporting patient autonomy and patient advocacy. Patients are capable of designating the direction of their medical care, possessing rights to refuse and accept proposed procedures according to the Patient Self Determination Act of 1990 which mandates patients be given information regarding their rights and abilities to prepare Advance Directives.

A nurse is given an opportunity to help patients, either if its by helping them through a very serious sickness or just helping a patient get to the bathroom on time, or a time when happiness is overfilling the room and a child is being born. Registered nurses provide a wide variety of patient care services (Mitchell, p.12). A Nurse must always know where to begin and where to stop, as any other career in the health field there is always something that cannot be done by everyone but only the certified person, a nurse must always remain inside her scope of practice to prevent any misunderstandings. A nurse must also follow a code of ethics , the code of ethics of the American Association of Medical Assistants states that a nurse should at all times render service with full respect and dignity of humanity, respect confidential information obtained by a patients file, uphold the honor and high principles the profession and accept its discipline, and last but not least always want to improve her services to better serve the health and well being of the community. (Mitchell, p.65).

The roles and responsibility of a nurse are that most nurses face moral problems similar to these faces by the physician as well as a moral problem uniquely related to their professional role thus nurse must sometimes choose between doing what they believe will promote patients well-being and the respecting the patient ’ self-determination. Lisa explained the role as a role, is a “norm-governed patterns of action that undertaken in accordance with the social expectations” (Lisa page 690). Thus, the ability to serve and work according to the

The second category of provisions relates to the nurse’s responsibility to maintain their own proficiency and health environments, delegate appropriately, preserve integrity, and keep their practice and competence current. It is crucial that nurses are proficient and maintain competency in order to deliver high quality care to patients. "The virtue of professional competence calls for continual professional growth and a commitment to lifelong learning. You must practice nursing that’s evidence-based, be knowledgeable about the scope and standards of nursing practice, and have the necessary skills to perform nursing tasks effectively” [ (Lachman, 2008, p. 44) ].

Nursing profession is constantly changing with the development of new technologies that lead to a new level of responsibility. The new level of responsibility challenges nurses torespond to different and difficultsituations in the health care industry, especially in protecting the human right, dignity of patients and their safety. Nurses hold adistinctive position as patient advocates, regardless of their respective areas of practice; either in a home health, clinic, or in a hospital setting. Nursesare faced with ethical decisions, both personal and professional decisions.

I chose to analyze provision three contained in the American Association Code of Ethics. Provision three explores a nurses daily duty as it relates to patient rights as well as safety and patient privacy. In addition to other healthcare related responsibilities a nurse is effectively, a valuable patient advocate who must work to ensure that patients are treated fairly and competently, not only from the nursing staff, but all caregivers. (American Nurses Association). If a situation concerning incompetent care from other healthcare providers should arise, the nurse must assess issue on behalf of the patient and initiate action to have the issue corrected.

- The nurse has to preserve the client’s dignity and care about the well-being of client.

Provision 4. Nurses should practice within the scope of practice and consult specialist as soon as needed and the nurse must collaborate care of the patient they care for

I chose the ANA’s provision 7 to focus on which states “the nurse, in all roles and settings, advances

In provision 3.4 it discusses that nursing is consistently reviewing policies, and looking at ways to increase patient safety, reduce errors, and promote patient health. Also, it discusses that nursing educators teach and ensure competency in in new nurses, before they are able to practice on their own. Some ways nurses can help in this process is, by following current safety standards that help reduce errors, such as: checking patient armbands and verifying birthday and patient, name with the patient. Other ways are, ensuring adequate staffing is provided, based on the acuity of patients, in an effort to reduce the nurses stress. Also as a nurse reporting when errors occur, so that policies can be either reviewed or new policies can be put in place to help prevent the error from occurring again. Student nurse can help by speaking up when they are in need of further teaching on a matter, asking for help when unsure on how to perform a task they have been given, and by taking in as much knowledge as they can during their nursing school

Sets requirements to enter the profession, establishes and enforces standards of nursing practice, and assures the quality of practice of the profession and the continuing competence of nurses.

First is the principal of beneficence which “requires nurses to act in ways that benefit patients” (Burkhardt, 2014, p.69). This principle tells us that one should promote good, prevent harm and remove evil or harm.

“Concepts of autonomy and right to self determination acknowledge patients’ rights to make their own choices and to take actions based on their personal views and perceived benefits. Healthcare providers have an ethical obligation

Provision 2: The nurse 's primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, or community. The nurse dishonored this code of ethics, because the nurse was unable to be committed to the patient with the barrier of not having enough time to care for the patient’s and

Nurses and nursing staff should treat everyone in their care with dignity and humanity and should understand individual needs, show compassion and sensitivity, and provide care in a