American nurses are guided by a code of ethics that has nine provisions. The first provision emphasizes on compassion by the nurse in carrying out their duty. The second is a nurse's commitment to serving the patient. Third in this code of ethics is the requirement that a nurse not only advocates for the patient’s health but goes further to protect it. The same provision points out the nurse’s duty to safeguard the patient’s rights. The fourth provision gives nurses authority and accountability for their practice, which makes them responsible for making the right decision in their practice. Nurses are required to promote health and safety in the fifth provision of this code of ethics. They are required to be competent and ensure integrity in their service. In the sixth provision, it is the duty of nurses to facilitate a working environment where ethics are adhered to and an environment where safety quality healthcare service comes first. In this nurse’s code of ethics, they are required to contribute to the advancement of the profession through research, development of standards in the nursing profession and the generation of ideas towards healthcare and as nursing policy. In the eighth provision, nurses need to collaborate with other healthcare professionals in the protection of human rights. They are also to enhance diplomacy and reduce health disparities. The final provision tasks all professional nursing organizations to push for the values nursing stands for in healthcare and maintain justice in the profession (Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, 2016).
The American Medical Association, the association for physicians,' sets out standards that are expected of the American physician, they are as follows. A physician has to competently provide healthcare with a mix of compassion and respect to the patient. Secondly, a physician is expected to uphold honesty in their practice and report other physicians who practice fraud and deceit in their profession. Thirdly, every physician is expected to uphold the law and be responsible for procedurally making amends to the requirements that go against the wellbeing of the patient. For a physician there has to be respect for the rights of the patient, colleagues, and others working with him or her. He or she (the physician) has to safeguard the privacy of the patient as required by law. Fifthly, a physician has to study and utilize knowledge in medicine, reveal this to the relevant patients, colleagues, and members of the public. He or she can also consult other healthcare professionals to seek clarity on a medical matter. Save for emergencies; a physician is free to choose whom to serve and in what setting. A physician is responsible for taking part in activities that make the lives of a community better and improves public health. When treating a patient, the physician’s responsibility to him or her (the patient) is paramount. Finally, the physician has to back access to health services for all (American Medical Association (AMA), 2016).
There are some similarities between these two codes of ethics. The first similarity is on service with compassion and respect for the patient for both nurses and physicians. These two healthcare professions set a high bar on upholding the rights of the patient in service. Physicians and nurses are required to advance knowledge in their professions through research work. Enshrined in the codes of ethics of physicians and nurses is the need for collaboration among colleagues and other healthcare professionals. Both nurses and physicians are responsible and accountable for their patients. Integrity in service is required for nurses as well as physicians.
There are some differences between the two codes of ethics that guide nurses and physicians. Nurses, unlike physicians, are not required in their code of ethics to report colleagues who are dishonest or practice fraud. Another thing is that nurses not free to choose to whom to render their services, with of course the exception of emergencies; this only applies to physicians. Physicians are supposed to support the access to healthcare, which is not part of the nurses’ code of ethics. Nurses are not deemed responsible for taking part in activities that improve public health in communities by their code of ethics, unlike doctors. Finally, there is nothing in the code of ethics of physicians that touches on their professional association, unlike in the nursing code of ethics.
These codes of ethics can be useful in triaging patients during emergencies. For example, in both nursing and physician ethics, there is the provision of giving healthcare service with compassion, respect and human dignity. This guide from the two codes of ethics should be given priority, which implies those in extreme pain should be given first preference for treatment. The consideration of such cases should be after the cases of patients who have lost consciousness or are in near death in need of stabilization.
References
American Medical Association (AMA). (2016). AMA principles of medical ethics. Retrieved from https://download.ama-assn.org/resources/doc/code-medical-ethics/principles-of-medical-ethics-20160627.pdf
Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. (2016). American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of ethics. Retrieved from http://www.vcuhealth.org/?id=1220&sid=13
