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Roles and responsibilities of a nurse
Roles and responsibilities of a nurse
The importance of nurse autonomy
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I. Nursing Today The job of a professional nurse today is one that requires high intellect, accountability, expertise, selflessness, dedication, and a compassionate heart to help those who are hurting. In past years, nursing has been regarded as a job and not a profession. Today, professional nurses assume the vital responsibility of upholding the moral and ethical principles of nursing in order to better advocate and care for their patients. These principles include autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, fidelity, justice, and veracity (Zerwekh and Garneau 2015, 423). Nurses today work autonomously to assist patient and write appropriate care plans, mentor student nurses, and facilitate communication between families, patients, …show more content…
Jude 1:22 says, “And of some have compassion, making a difference.” The service of nursing is an outlet for nurses that enables them to demonstrate the same compassion that Jesus showed to others during his ministry on the earth. The act of nursing is much more than a profession, it is a daily opportunity to instill hope and share Christ’s love with those who are suffering. Sister Callista Roy theorizes that nursing is a service that aids patients in adapting to alterations in their self-concept, role function, psychological needs, and interdependent functions (McEwen and Wills 2011, 172). She believes that fostering positive responses to diverse stimuli helps improve a patient’s quality of life and health (Alligood and Tomey 2010, 338). A nurse’s positive, cheerful attitude and kind spirit can promote patient …show more content…
Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” A man is a triune being composed of body, soul, and spirit who reflects the Holy Trinity of God, the Father, and the Holy Sprit. The Bible states in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This verse of scripture reveals that man has a spiritual nature that is separate from the body in which he dwells. Sister Roy believes that man is a whole being composed of parts or subsystems that all work together for a common purpose. Man has a shared relationship with God and the world (Alligood and Tomey 2010, 341-342). The Bible declares in Isaiah 43:7, “ Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.” A man’s ultimate purpose on the earth is to glorify God through his
Nurses everywhere face problems and challenges in practice. Most of the challenges occur due to a struggle with the use of ethical principles in patient care. Ethical principles are “basic and obvious moral truths that guide deliberation and action,” (Burkhardt, Nathaniel, 2014). Ethical principles that are used in nursing practice include autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, veracity, confidentiality, justice, and fidelity. These challenges not only affect them, but the quality of care they provide as well. According to the article, some of the most frequently occurring and most stressful ethical issues were protecting patient rights, autonomy and informed consent to treatment, staffing problems, advanced care planning, and surrogate decision making (Ulrich et. al, 2013). The ethical issue of inadequate staffing conflicts with the principle of non-maleficence.
We know that a majority of our profession is made up of highly educated and trained professionals; colleagues who advocate for patient autonomy and patient-centered care (the patient’s right and ability to make their own informed decisions). Similarly, as nurses, we have the right and the ability to deliver autonomously holistic primary nursing care. Both nursing and patient autonomy allow for the healthy development of a respectful partnership: a relationship that can foresee and respond to patient/family needs (e.g., physical comfort, emotional, informational, cultural, spiritual, and learning needs) (Finkelman & Kenner, 2016, p. 274).
The term nursing ethics means that the nurse has an obligation judge what is right and wrong in her or his duties as guided by the profession or the moral principles that govern the profession and as prescribed by the professional body. Nursing ethics initially encompassed virtues that were desired in a nurse. At the time, these virtues included physician loyalty, commitment to high moral character and obedience. Evolvement of nursing profession gradually made nurses embrace patients’ advocacy. As patient advocates, nurses work as part of an interdisciplinary team to provide patient care. Nursing ethics have kept pace with the advancement of the nursing profession to include a patient-centered focus, rather than a physician-centered focus.
The American Nurses Association (ANA) developed a foundation for which all nurses are expected to perform their basic duties in order to meet the needs of the society we serve. The ANA “has long been instrumental in the development of three foundational documents for professional nursing; its code of ethics, its scope and standards of practice, ands statement of social policy.” (ANA, 2010, p. 87) The ANA defined nursing as “the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations” and used to create the scope and standards of nursing practice. (ANA, 2010, p. 1) These “outline the steps that nurses must take to meet client healthcare needs.” () The nursing process, for example, is one of the things I use daily. Other examples include communicating and collaborating with my patient, their families, and my peers, and being a lifelong learner. I continually research new diagnoses, medications, and treatments for my patients. As a nurse of ...
With that said, the nursing profession has a unique code of ethics, that though at times challenging, it is each nurses duty to uphold. Specific provisions can guide a preceptor in navigating and facilitating a conversation that can help a student nurse to understand the journey that lies ahead. More importantly, the student must understand how the profession defines their client, or in nursing, the patient. The ANA Code of Ethics defines the term patient by the derivative meaning, “the one who suffers” (ANA, 2001). This is fundamental for the student to understand because no amount of money or job security can retain a nurse when faced the trials, tribulations, perseverance, or jubilation that accompanies caring for “the one who suffers”.
Nurses will experience times where their own personal beliefs and values will be challenged by the law, professional standards, and even other nurses. It can be scary, frustrating, or heart breaking, but nurses must remain professional and act within their legal scope. There is no question that nursing is tough, deeply passionate work. Sometimes you have to realize that the most you are allowed to do is encourage all to prepare a health care directive or make a referral to the prescribing practitioner about drugs and supplement concerns. In the end, a good nurse negotiates legal, ethical, and interpersonal issues using knowledge, clear communication, and empathy for human life.
A nurse’s role in our society today is exceptionally significant. Nurses are somewhat idolized and looked to as our everyday “superman”. “The mission of nursing in society is to help individuals, families, and groups to determine and achieve physical, mental, and social potential, and to do so within the challenging context of the environment in which they live and work” (“The Role of a Nurse/Midwife”). Many Americans turn to nurses for delivery of primary health care services and health care education (Whelan). In our country, there is constantly someone in need of health care. There will always be a baby being born or a person dying, someone becoming ill or growing old. Some people due to their physical and/or mental state of health are completely dependent on a nurse and wouldn’t be able to get through the simple obstacles of every day, or achieve the necessary requirements of a simple day without their aid. Not only do nurses help, and assist you when you’re sick, but also act to promote good health to others. They end...
Nursing is a career often based off of being critical thinkers, having great communication skills, and showing empathy through their care. One important characteristic that is frequently overlooked, although it is one of the most important components of being a nurse, is professionalism. So many different aspects fall under the definition of professionalism when it comes to upholding the duties of a nurse. These qualities can range from just looking the part, to the way a nurse communicates with their patients and those involved in the patient’s care. With all things considered, I will explain just how important professionalism is on the basis of ethics, professional behaviors, how nurses serve a global community, and diversity.
Nursing has encountered many obstacles over time that caused it to transform into the dynamic profession it is today. The challenging work a nurse shoulders requires an in depth education on matters pertaining to biology as well as learning social skills, which prove to play a crucial role throughout their career. Nurses must have an adept capacity for empathy and compassion and must be able to establish personable relationships with patients on a daily basis. Public perception of nursing is often ignorant of the many duties and roles
In Nursing, there will always be instances where the patient's nurse needs to advocate for their patient. There are numerous reasons why a nurse would advocate for their patient ranging from getting the doctor to change the patient’s orders, helping the patient’s treatment team understand what it is the patient is requiring for the day, to expressing the patient’s last wishes before death. In every situation, the nurse should do what is in the patient’s best interest. Tomajan (2012), “Advocacy skills are the ability to successfully support a cause or interest on one’s own behalf or that of another. Advocacy requires a set of skills that include problem solving, communication, influence, and collaboration”(p. 2). With those skills, the nursing staff will be able to work together to advocate for their patients. Along with those skills, nurses need to keep in mind the three core attributes that are: safeguarding patients’ autonomy; acting on behalf of patients; and championing social justice in the provision of health care. (Bu & Jezewski, 2006)
As I reflect on my nursing education, I relieved that I have unexpectedly created a set of values and beliefs for myself, otherwise known as my personal nursing philosophy. I believe that the core of nursing is advocacy, knowledge, integrity and caring. The focus of nursing is on patient need and patient health. According to the (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2017), “nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, facilitation of healing, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations.” I believe that nursing is an art allowing the nurse to be competent,
The American Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Nurses has five elements that pertain to the Principle of Autonomy. Each individual element applies to “respect individual persons” (Baillie, McGeehan, Garrett T, M., Garrett R. M., 2013, p.33). In Chapter 2 of the Health Care ethics: Principles and problems text, it discusses thouroghly the consent of an individual to make their own decisions regarding their health and future requests of care. As a nurse or within all heath care professions, we must treat each individual patient with care, respect, and to remain mindful to the patient regarding any aspect of their lives. In the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses, it explains ways of maintaining the empathy required in the health field. It further discusses that the respect for human dignity must be a priority, relationships to patients must remain neutral, the severity of the situation, the right to self-rule, and the professionalism that must be upheld by the nurse and their associates.
In my medical career, I have been privileged to work alongside some of the most professional, dedicated, knowledgeable and compassionate nurses. I have seen first-hand the difference that they can make in a patient’s life and their family, during those unfortunate times when sickness and injury can be so overwhelming. The appreciation and respect that I have for nurses, as well as their indispensable contribution to the health care system, is what encourage me to pursue nursing as a profession.
The medical field is vital to society and is will always be in need of a medical staff. Nurses are a crucial part of the medical team and are the ones responsible for the care and safety of patients. Nursing requires great communication skills, responsibility, patience, and dedication. Many nurses are social and like to care for others, enjoy thinking on their feet and problem solving, and excel at collaborating with others. These skills help a nurses work efficiently and are often the best skills suited for this profession. Nurses are health educators and advocates for patients, families and communities. "They have a unique scope of practice and can practice independently, although they also collaborate with all members of the health care
The nurses role is important in patient care because nurses spend more time with the patients than the doctors do, so it is essential that we build a relationship with our patients. In order to build a relationship with our patients it is vital to have good time management in order to spend the proper time educating each patient. Without good time management skills then there would be no time to provide the proper education each patient needs before going home. One of the most important roles a nurse could have is to educate their patients.