Looking For The Best Info About Ethics In The Nursing Practice?Many hospitals have ethics committees, or an ethicist, on staff to keep the concepts of ethics in nursing practice in the forefront of professionals' minds. Some hospitals even have protocols for an ethics consult at the bedside during ICU or trauma situations where ceasing life support is being considered. The American Nurses Association (ANA) has developed principles for professional nursing behavior. Hospitals and private practices have policies, procedures and programs in place which support the adherence to these ethics in nursing practice. The following are highlights of some of the ethics in nursing practice guidelines and ways for practical application. Ethics in Nursing Practice Guidelines 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. Respecting patients, their families and colleagues is the cornerstone for nurses to adhere to by learning about the patient population in which they serve. Self evaluation and proven examples of how these ethics in nursing practice are demonstrated when interacting with patients and colleagues. The nurse's primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, or community. Commitment to the patient is a fundamental expectation of nurses. Nurses are problem solvers for any situation that the patient or a family member may encounter. Nurses must communicate these concerns and offer resolutions that align with the ethics in nursing practice without fear of reproach. The nurse promotes, advocates for, and strives to protect the health, safety, and rights of the patient. Nurses are responsible for the health and well being of all patients. Guidelines in a medical facility must protect patient information. Nurses are often the recipient of confidential information from patients and their family members. Therefore, nurses must uphold the ethics in nursing practice to protect patients' confidentiality rights unless it puts their care or safety at risk. The nurse owes the same duties to self as to others, including the responsibility to preserve integrity and safety, to maintain competence, and to continue personal professional growth. As nurses assist others through their wellness process, they must also commit to self-care. Over worked nurses cannot function at peak performance, which risks the patients' safety. Therefore, it is important the medical facility maintains a healthy work environment. A full commitment to lifelong learning is essential for nurses to maintain a level of competence. Nurses must consistently adhere to the ethics in nursing practice as these supports their personal and professional values. The nurse collaborates with other health professionals and the public in promoting community, national, and international efforts to meet health needs. Nurses should feel empowered to promote community health, realizing this will affect the level of care received in a medical facility. This includes local, national and international communities. Disasters may strike any place, at any time. Nurses committed to the health needs of the populations affected are not limited by locality, but will find ways to help. |