Personal Application of the Tenets of the Code of Ethics Essay

Personal Application of the Tenets of the Code of Ethics Essay

Every profession has a code of ethics that guides the members’ practice and directs their judgment when faced with ethical dilemmas. Nurses have a professional code of ethics outlining how they should act ethically within their practice and directing them on the actions to take when faced with situations that may prevent them from fulfilling their professional obligations (Haddad & Geiger, 2022). This essay presents a personal application of the different tenets of the code of ethics for nurses in a practice setting, the purpose, application examples, and the importance of upholding the tenets.

The first tenet states that the nurse practices with compassion and respect for every person’s inherent dignity, worth and unique attributes. The tenet is a provision that encompasses some of the most fundamental requirements in nursing practice. It mandates nurses to respect human dignity, maintain relationships with the patient, respect the patient regardless of their health condition, respect the patient’s right to self-determination/autonomy, and extend respect when interacting with colleagues and other interprofessional team members.

I would apply this tenet in practice by ensuring that I exercise compassion and respect for human dignity. I would ensure I treat all patients and give them the best care, regardless of their condition. Additionally, I would provide relevant information about treatment, care plans, and the available options and accord the patient a chance to exercise autonomy. I would also respect the interaction of my colleagues and other interprofessional team members by regarding their input in care provision and collaborating with them effectively to ensure holistic care provision. According to Eby et al. (2021), upholding ethical conduct in nursing depicts the profession’s integrity. An excellent example of applying this tenet in practice is offering the same kind of care and showing compassion to patients with contagious conditions as you would with other conditions.

The second tenet of focus in this discussion is tenet 4. It stipulates that the nurse has authority, accountability, and responsibility for nursing practice, makes decisions, and takes action consistent with the obligation to provide optimal patient care. Nurses have a right to practice independently and make clinical decisions in collaboration and coordination with other healthcare providers (Stievano & Tschudin, 2019). However, it is essential to take responsibility and be accountable for the consequences that may arise from clinical decisions made by the nurse. I would apply the tenets of ethics by authoritatively taking charge and providing and delegating care within my scope of practice. Additionally, I would do everything within my scope of practice, accept nursing assignments, and consult with other interdisciplinary team members to ensure optimal quality of care provision.

Being held accountable and taking responsibility for nursing judgments, decisions and actions ensure that nurses are careful not to make errors and mistakes that would have legal or ethical consequences. Thus, the tenet maximizes care quality since nurses are more careful in their practice. Examples of applying the tenet in practice include consulting other interprofessional team members, delegating tasks when the issue is beyond the nursing practice scope, and taking responsibility for mistakes made under my care, even though they may have been technical. The fourth tenet enhances my practice as a nurse by giving me confidence that I have the authority to carry out tasks, delegate tasks, and make clinical decisions within my scope of practice.

In conclusion, nurses should uphold and practice within the set standards of practice while considering all the nine tenets of the code of ethics. The code of ethics ensures that nurses maintain high standards of professionalism and make sound judgments when faced with ethical obligations compromising nursing practice.

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References

Eby, R. A., Hartley, P. L., Hodges, P. J., & Hoffpauir, R. B. (2021). Fostering ethical integrity in nursing: An ongoing examination of diverse perceptions. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 16(1), 36-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2020.07.001

Haddad, L. M., & Geiger, R. A. (2022). Nursing Ethical Considerations. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30252310/

Stievano, A., & Tschudin, V. (2019). The ICN code of ethics for nurses: a time for revision. International Nursing Review, 66(2), 154-156. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12525

 

Reviewing Appendix B in Butts, choose two of the Nine Tenets of the Code of Ethics for Nurses and describe how you will personally apply each tenet in the practice setting with your patients. Describe in detail the purpose of the tenet and provide examples of the tenet applied in practice. Explain why it is important to uphold the tenet in maximizing the quality of patient care, and identify how it enhances your own practice as a nurse.

Your paper should be 1-2 pages.

Include a title page and a reference page to cite your text. Adhere to APA formatting throughout, and cite any outside sources you may use.