ANA Code of Conduct- Case Study
Application of Code of Ethics to Nursing Practice
Student’s Name
Institution of Affiliation
Application of Code of Ethics to Nursing Practice
Without a doubt, ethical values form a fundamental part of the foundation of a nursing career. They are universal rules of conduct that offer a practical ground for nurses to identify the kinds of actions, intentions, and motives to value when caring for patients (Haddad & Geiger, 2019). Nursing incorporates preventing illnesses, alleviating suffering, and protecting and restoring health when caring for persons, families, groups, as well as communities. Notably, persons who pursue nursing as a career are not only expected to adhere to the ideals and moral norms of the nursing profession but also to embrace them as part of what means to be a nurse. Therefore, the ANA Code of conduct for nurses was developed to make explicit the main goals, values, and obligations of the nursing profession. More importantly, the ANA Code of Ethics for Nursing acts as an expression of nursing’s own comprehension of its obligation to the community and also profession’s nonnegotiable ethical standards and a succinct statement of the ethical commitments and duties of every person entering the nursing profession (Haddad & Geiger, 2019). This paper aims to analyze provisions 3 and 4 of the ANA Code of Ethics and how they apply to the case study provided in the video.
Provision 3: “The nurse promotes, advocates for, and protects the rights, health, and safety of the patient (Stokes, 2016a).”
This provision makes it clear that nurses need to comprehend all privacy guidelines as patient care and patient identifiers are concerned. Therefore, nurses involved in the care of patients must comprehend all aspects of a patient, including informed consent and full disclosure to the patient of all elements required in his or her care (Haddad & Geiger, 2019). As a nurse, one must understand any organizational standards set in place for reviewing his or her performance, which incorporates measurements of progress and the need for further review or study to meet the required performance standards. Therefore, when one wants to become a nurse practitioner, one must demonstrate clinical and documentation prowess. Standards of competence will continue at organizations in which a nurse works. In case one witnesses or recognizes any questionable healthcare practice, one is advised to ensure that the patient is safeguarded by reporting any misconduct or potential safety issue of concern. This provision also ensures that a nurse does not offer care to a patient when under the influence of any substance that could undermine thought or action, which incorporates prescription medication.
Provision 4: “The nurse has authority, accountability, and responsibility for nursing practice: makes decisions, and takes action consistent with the obligation to promote health and to provide optimal care (Stokes, 2016a).”
This provision ensures that as a nurse, it is important that one is committed to accountability for all aspects of care and ensure that actions align with responsible decision making. Usage of authority needs to be professional and about all elements of individualism and patient, as well as ethical issues of concern (Haddad & Geiger, 2019). Any nursing decisions need to be well thought, planned, and executed responsibly with determination. When there is any delegation of nursing activities or functions, they must be executed with respect for the action and the outcomes to occur.
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Case Study Scenarios
In the case study, three provided in the video concerns violation of both provisions 3 and 4 of the ANA Code of Conduct. In this case, Nancy, who is the nurse, was found guilty of the violation of several ANA Codes of Conduct (Stokes, 2016b). For instance, she violated provision 3 by failing to protect the safety of the client and the public because health care and safety were affected by her incompetence, unethical, and illegal practices. Provision 3 requires that the nurse must promote, advocate for, and protect the rights, health, and safety of the patient all the time. However, the nurse decided not to protect the safety of the patent on the ground that she has interacted with her and that she saw blood hanged against the consent of the client. The nurse ought to continue the care for this patient regardless of whether blood products were present in the room and ensure that the patient was safe. As a result of this violation, the nurse was put on probation for three years, which she deserved. Besides, this case also violated provision 4 because the nurses failed to assume responsibility and accountability for her judgment and actions, thus putting the patient at risk (Stokes, 2016b). The decisions the nurse took were not well thought, and her actions were not consistent with the duty to promote health and to offer optimal care. Her actions, thus put the life of the patient at risk by denying the patient to right to receive care to promote health and provide optimal care.
Overall, ethics is an integral part of the foundation of a nursing career. The ethical values guide nursing practice and ensure that nursing actions and practices are consistent with the obligation to safeguard the rights, health, and safety of patients while ensuring accountability and nursing responsibility. Notably, case study three demonstrates a violation of several ANA Ethical Codes of Conducts, the main ones being Provisions 3 and 4. Due to the violation of the provisions, the nurse put the life of the patient at risk. As a result, the nurse received three-year probation, which she deserves, to act as a lesson to her and other nurses who may fail to adhere to the ANA Ethical Code of Conduct.
References
Haddad, L. M., & Geiger, R. A. (2019). Nursing Ethical Considerations.
Stokes, F. (2016a). Use of Code of Ethics and the Nurse Practice Act. Retrieved 24 June 2020, from https://www.ncsbn.org/2016IRE_FStokes.pdf
Stokes, F. (2016b). Use of Code of Ethics and Nurse Practice Act as Resources for Boards | NCSBN. Retrieved 24 June 2020, from https://www.ncsbn.org/8989.htm
