Nursing Roles and Values

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.

Nursing Roles and Values

Each of the United States develops standards of care distinguishing nursing roles and competencies. Chapter 6, Section 2725 of California’s Nurse Practice Act defines the nursing role in patient care as independently interpreting the patient’s condition, behavior, abnormalities, and judging the appropriateness of care. Title 16, Section 1443.5 of the state’s Code of Regulations requires the nurse to provide client advocacy by implementing improvements in health care or supporting actions congruent with the client’s wishes. Providing the patient with informed consent prior to procedure completion is an imperative obligation of the nurse (California Board of Registered Nursing). These statutes assingn the nurse responsibililty in determining Mr. E’s capacity to make medical decisions; having knowledge and understanding of the risks, benefits, and consequences of receiving or refusing a proposed treatment. Mr. E’s current condition of symptomatic sepsis, raises concerns of changes in his mental capacity and ability to make competent medical decisions.

Code of Ethics

Provision 3 of the Nursing Code of Ethics asserts “the nurse promotes, advocates for, and strives to protect the health, safety, and rights of the patient”, inclusive to acts of privacy, confidentiality, and questio...

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... ethical dilemmas. Cognizance of Advance Directives, patient rights, cultural beliefs, facility policies, and laws enables all health care providers to incorporate proper means of benevolent care.

Works Cited

Badger, J. (2009). Respecting Patient Autonomy Versus Protecting the Patient's Health. JONA's Healthcare Law, Ethics and Regulations, Vol. 11, No4 , 120-124.

Board of Registered Nursing. (n.d.). Retrieved from BRN Report 2009: www.rn.ca.gov/pdfs/forms/brnfall2009.pdf

California Board of Reigsiterd Nursing. (2009). Retrieved from www.rn.gov.ca/regulations

Code of Ethics for Nurses With Interpretive Statements. (n.d.). Retrieved from www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/EthicsStandards/CodeofEthicsforNurses/Code-of-Ethics.aspx

Perrin, K. (2008). Quick Look Nursing: Ethics and Conflicts, Second Edition. Manchester, New Hampshire: Jones and Bartlett.