Virtually all professions are guided by a well-defined code of ethics and members must strive to adhere to them. This is usually aimed at ensuring effective and efficient delivery of services to the clients. The nursing code of ethics is designed to act as a road map to all nurses as they interact with the patients (American Nurses Association, 2001). A nurse is concerned with the delivery of care services to the sick, injured and the welfare of those who are vulnerable as well as fight for social justice (American Nurses Association, 2001). In their day-to-day duties, nurses seek to prevent illness and alleviate suffering. Moreover, they are expected to protect, promote, and restore the health of individuals, families, and community members. The code of ethics for nurses lays the foundation for appropriate ideals and moral norms of the profession in general.
I can vividly recall a day when I had a very tight schedule for the day. I reported working very early in the morning for the morning duty. When the time for change overcame, the nurse who was supposed to take over me was delayed and several patients needed to be attended to. At first, I felt that it was unfair for me to go on beyond my scheduled time. Although whatever I had planned to do in the afternoon was equally critical, I decided to continue offering my services to the patients as a professional nurse.
America has been faced with several public health crises especially communicable and non-communicable diseases. Hypertension is one of the leading causes of death in the United States and mainly affects adults (Cheriyan, McEniery, & Wilkinson, 2010). It is characterized by high blood pressure in the arteries which may reach chronic levels. Occasional levels of increased blood pressure do not constitute hypertension but sustained blood pressure of 140/90 is regarded as hypertension in medical terms (Fishberg, 2004). The condition may either be essential or secondary. If the cause of hypertension is not known, then it is referred to as essential hypertension. Secondary hypertension, on the other hand, is used to describe high blood pressure whose cause can be established. Unfortunately, about 95% of all cases are classified under essential hypertension (Fishberg, 2004). Apart from kidney problems, use of birth control pills, and tumors, it is not easy to determine the cause of hypertension.
It is estimated that about 73 million adults in America suffer from hypertension while some 2 million teenagers and children are affected by the condition (Cheriyan et al., 2010). Research findings reveal that African Americans are at a higher risk of suffering from hypertension compared with any other ethnicity (Fishberg, 2004). Smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, alcoholism, lack of vitamin D, stress, aging, and genetic orientation are some of the factors closely associated with hypertension. High blood pressure as the disease has no clear symptoms to such an extent that even the patient may not be aware of the condition. According to reliable statistics, approximately 33% of the people suffering from hypertension are unaware of their condition until after several years when it becomes chronic (Fishberg, 2004). It is a silent killer disease. At this level, high blood pressure can cause heart attack, renal failure, and stroke, among others.
Hypertension may be controlled by changing one’s lifestyle, using an appropriate medication, or both. Not more than 60% of those who have been diagnosed with hypertension have managed to control their blood pressure (Cheriyan et al., 2010). Blood pressure can be controlled by eating a proper diet which includes fruits, whole grains, and a variety of vegetables. The amount of salt and alcohol took should be reduced. Physical exercise should be increased to check on weight and enhance blood flow.
If hypertension is not detected early enough, it can lead to fatal consequences. A single member of a family suffering from hypertension affects the entire family in terms of time and resources. A case at hand is my uncle who was diagnosed with the condition at its later stages. Consequently, he is suffering from a stroke which has, in turn, incapacitated him. Family members are now forced to schedule when to offer care services. He can no longer go to his ordinary work causing a depletion of available resources. The impacts of this condition are so huge that a lot of effort should be made to prevent chronic hypertension.
References
American Nurses Association (2001). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. Author
Cheriyan, J., McEniery, C., & Wilkinson, I. B. (2010). Hypertension: the silent killer. Oxford University Press
Fishberg, A. M. (2004). Hypertension and heart disease. Cengage Learning