Strengths and Ethical Aspirations
My code of ethics focuses on being sensible and prudent above all things and committing such values to all actions that I do. I believe that as a nursing practice that is part of a larger organization that is responsible for safeguarding the health and wellbeing of others, it is important to others first and yourself second. I apply this line of thinking by focusing my actions on doing what I think is right based on which course of action is more prudent and sensible at the time. This can often entail staying in the hospital past my shift to make sure a patient is well taken care of, double or triple checking every facet of a patient’s current condition to ensure that it is stable as well as focusing on developing my knowledge so that I can take on more complex cases in the future. My future ethical aspiration is to better understand what choices would be fair to everyone involved in the healthcare organization that I am a part of. This aspiration is based on my choice to be a nursing director in the future and, as such, it would be necessary for me to make choices that are fair and prudent to all those that I am responsible for managing in the future.
Values that have had a positive impact
The main values that have had a positive impact on my life are sensibility and practicality in all things that I do. I am not the sort to purchase extravagant items nor do I take unnecessary risks when a more prudent course of action is available to me. It is with these values in mind that their application into my career as a nursing practitioner would help me immeasurably. The basis behind this is the fact that nurses need to be sensible when it comes to dealing with their patients. For instance, even if a patient states that having a certain type of meal would make them feel better, the fact remains that if such a meal is prohibited to them by the surgeon before the operation, then a nurse needs to be sensible in placing the patient’s long term well being ahead of their short term discomfort (Johnson, 2005). Aside from this, I believe that a nurse should also be practical when it comes to how they approach their job. While it may be true that many enter into this field with the desire to help people, the fact remains that they are only human and, as such, have a limit when it comes to how much work they can do. A nurse would need to be practical when it comes to balancing both their job and their life outside of their career. It is important to understand that all individuals have limits and that it is often necessary to rest to do your job properly (McNiesh, Benner & Chesla, 2011). Thus, being practical in understanding your limits is an absolute necessity, at least in my opinion.
Behaviors to Develop Further
One behavior that I believe needs further development in my case comes in the form of accountability. I need to learn to be more responsible for my actions and to realize that what I do can have an impact on those around me. This lack of awareness regarding accountability is because I have a strong independent streak and often focus on doing things on my own or finding my solutions to a problem. I realize now that this can have detrimental effects for the healthcare facility that I work for given the potential conflict such an attitude would have where cooperation and collusion within a group setting are absolutely essential to ensure the health and wellbeing of the people under our care.
Reference List
Johnson, V. Y. (2005). Myths and Concerns: Benner’s Domains of Nursing Practice And Certification. Urologic Nursing, 25(3), 216.
McNiesh, S., Benner, P., & Chesla, C. (2011). Learning Formative Skills of Nursing Practice in an Accelerated Program. Qualitative Health Research, 21(1), 51-61