Nursing is a very noble profession that requires a lot of patience and understanding. Nursing involves safeguarding and advocating a healthy mind and body. This dignified profession also assists in the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of various diseases. Being a ‘Bachelor of Science in Nursing’ (BSN) is the prerequisite for becoming a qualified and approved nurse. But even during their studies, students of BSN can avail various professional opportunities provided by hospitals. Likewise, with other professions, nursing also has certain professional values to be followed. Professional values mean the moral standards to be followed while performing duties.
The ‘National League for Nursing’ outlines four professional values for nurses namely, caring, integrity, diversity, and excellence (NLN, 2013). Nurses have the moral responsibility of extending all possible help and care to their patients. While performing their duties, nurses have to consider the fact that every person is concerned about his/her dignity. It is obvious that due to the diverse population, hospitals have patients from all ethnicities and cultures. Nurses’ behavior should be impartial and irrespective of such diversities. It is an ethical or moral responsibility of nurses to be accountable to their professional job profiles. Sometimes, due to the language barrier, nurses are not able to understand what the patients want to convey. The changes in the characteristics of such populations, the unstable fertility rates, and advancements in science and technology have resulted in an overall cultural revolution. Owing to such developments, there has been a need for change in nursing practices worldwide.
According to the ‘Canadian Nurses Association’, nurses are ethically responsible to exhibit certain values during their, “interactions with individuals, families, groups, populations, communities and society as well with students, colleagues and other healthcare professionals” (Canadian Nurses Association, 2008, p. 8). Nurses should be aware of their patients’ sufferings and act in a sympathetic manner. Being competent and having the required knowledge is very critical in this profession. Nurses should always advocate a healthy mind and body. The guidelines of the ‘Canadian Nurses Association’ require the nurses to keep their patients informed about the decisions being taken about their illness. Nurses should always acknowledge the dignity of people and behave respectfully. All information pertaining to the patients should be considered confidential and private. Being fair and safeguarding human rights are also considered to be professional obligations of nurses. Above all, nurses should be responsible for their actions.
According to the definition of nursing, as described by the ‘Royal College of Nursing’, “Nursing is based on ethical values which respect the dignity, autonomy and uniqueness of human beings, the privileged nurse-patient relationship, and the acceptance of personal accountability for decisions and actions” (Royal College of Nursing, 2003, p. 3). It is not acceptable on the part of nurses to have an insufficient understanding of their patient’s pain. It is an ethical or moral responsibility of nurses to be accountable to their professional job profiles. Due to the ethical and social implications of the nursing profession, it is obvious that impartiality in healthcare is of immense societal importance. Culture plays a vital role in the nursing practice. Different cultures have different perceptions about health and illness. Culture is a typical kind of characteristic of people having many things in common such as speech, communication style, creed, faith, beliefs, food habits, social traditions, music, arts, etc.
The ‘College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia’ (CRNBC) has strict guidelines about the professional standards to be observed by nurses. The four standards presented by CRNBC are, ‘professional responsibility and accountability’, ‘knowledge-based practice’, ‘client-focused provision of service’, and ‘ethical practice’ (CRNBC, 2012). CRNBC believes that nurses are responsible for their own behavior and practices. Nurses should consider the professional, ethical and legal aspects of their profile. They are not only bound morally but legally as well to provide better health care that is irrespective of any cultural differences. Nurses are required to offer treatment based on evidence from reliable sources. They should be in constant touch with the patient as well as their colleagues regarding the treatment being offered. They should also advocate and practice delegation of duties and change in practice (for the betterment). The patient should always be the first priority for a nurse.
The ‘Irish Nursing Board’ advocates the importance of patients in the nursing profession. While practicing, the nurses should always give preference to their patients and their interests (Irish Nursing Board, n.d. para. 2). The treatment should be offered to patients irrespective of their ‘culture or religion’. The dignity of patients should be upheld at all times. Trust should be based on the relationship between nurses and their patients. Nurses should acknowledge the pain and hardships being experienced by the patients and their approach should be driven by sympathy. They should advocate for the cause of the patients and their relatives. The actions of nurses should be based on peer evidence of similar cases. Several new developments are made in the medical field. This helps in offering the latest and best possible treatment to patients. Finally, nurses should follow the standards of the ‘Code of Professional Conduct’.
References
Canadian Nurses Association. (2008). Code of ethics for registered nurses. Web.
CRNBC. (2012). Professional standards for registered nurses. Web.
Irish Nursing Board. (n.d.). Nursing values. Web.
NLN. (2013). About the NLN. Web.
Royal College of Nursing. (2003). Defining nursing. Web.