My Nursing Practice Analysis
Nursing has been a significant part of my life for more than 31 years. During my career, I have taken care of thousands of patients, and knowing that I have been a part of a patient’s healing process and grieving process is satisfying. The American Nurses Association (ANA) (2010) states, “The art of nursing is based on caring and respect for human dignity” (p. 23). As a nurse, respecting my patient’s dignity is part of my role. I am upholding the ethical values set by the ANA by respecting the dignity of my patients with respect to his or her medical and personal decisions concerning treatment.
ANA (2010) provision seven states, “The nurse participates in the ...view middle of the document...
Getting involved in abused women’s shelters, making the public aware of school programs that feed children whose parents cannot afford food, and providing equal healthcare for all people are my goals.
ANA (2010) provision nine states “the profession of nursing, as represented by associations and their members, is responsible for articulating nursing values, for maintaining the integrity of the profession and its practice and for shaping social policy” (Fowler. p. 143). As a nursing professional, I have an ethical obligation to be involved with professional associations and their efforts for social reform.
New York State law and regulations (NYSED.gov, 2010) defines my nursing practice as follows.
The practice of the profession of nursing as a registered professional nurse is defined as diagnosing and treating human responses to the actual or potential health problems through services such as case finding, health teaching, health counseling, and provision of care supportive to or restoration of life and well-being, and execution of medical regimens prescribed by a licensed physician, dentist, or other licensed health care provider legally authorized under this title and in accordance with the commissioner’s regulations. A nursing regimen shall be consistent with and shall not vary any existing medical regimens. As an R.N. in my state, I may a) diagnose and treat a patient’s unique responses to diagnosed health problems, b) perform health assessments to identify new symptoms of possibly undiagnosed conditions or complications, c) teach and counsel patients about maintenance of health and prevention of illness and complications, d) execute medical regimens as prescribed by licensed physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and podiatrists, and e) contribute as a member of an interdisciplinary health care team and as a consultant on health-related committees to plan and implement the health care needs of consumers.
According to Beech (2007), “Confidentiality in healthcare is a legal obligation that is derived from statutory and case law as well as forming part of the duty of care to a patient. Confidentiality is crucial to everyone in healthcare. It is vital that patients trust healthcare practitioners and are not deterred from seeking treatment for fear of their personal information being disclosed without authorization or consent” (p. 42). I am required by my institution not to disclose any information about my patient to anyone who is not involved in the patient’s care. Importantly, my patients must trust me when I am taking care of them, and must know that their treatment will never be disclosed to anyone but the people who are taking care of them and to family members whom they request may have information. My facility recently fired two nurses for disclosing information on their Facebook pages about in their care. Additionally, when anyone at my facility accesses patient records, whose charts I have accessed and...
