Introduction
People work in different sectors based on their profession and qualifications. Some of the professions deal with services delivery to the people and others deal with manufacturing and processing of goods. Although professions differ in terms of qualification, applicability, and prestige, they adhere to the code of conduct and profession ethics, which differ from one profession to the other. Profession ethics and code of conducts play an integral part in enhancing efficiency, accountability, transparency, and professionalism. It provides a framework that guides daily operations of an organization and employees’ conduct and nursing profession is no exemption. This profession remains an imperative docket in the contemporary society that renders medical services to the people and adheres to nursing ethics and code of conduct. Codes of conduct define how a nurse should execute her roles, duties, and responsibility; interact with co-workers and the employers (White, 2001). Additionally, codes of conducts stipulate what a nurse should do or not do in the line of duty.
Nursing Ethics and code of conduct
The fundamental responsibilities of a nurse are grounded on three aspects namely; saving life, promoting the provision of quality medical care and relieving a patient’s pain and suffering. Other codes of conduct and ethics reinforce these three elements.
Confidentiality: A nurse should adhere to the principle of confidentiality when executing her professional roles. Patient’s medical records should remain confidential and be kept away from a third party unless under the permission of the patient (Erb, 2000).
Adhere to the codes of conduct: A nurse has the responsibility of working effectively with other co-workers and follow orders of the doctor diligently and in outmost faith. However, a nurse should refuse to execute a doctor’s order that contravene ethical code of conduct and practice.
Treat patients with courtesy and respect: In order to establish and maintain a professional relationship with a patient, a nurse should respect a patient’s religion, culture, and ideologies. This enhances efficiency and professionalism.
As a nurse, I will refuse to execute the physician’s orders because they contravene ethics and nursing codes of conduct. Under the code of conduct, a nurse should save life and not commit murder. I will continue attending to the patient because it is my obligation to save a life at whatever cost. Upon saving the patient’s life, I will report the matter to the relevant authorities for further legal action to be taken against the doctor.
Part 2: technology and health care
A women aged 65 years was admitted at the hospital three weeks ago after diagnosed with oedema and progressive breathless. Before admission, the doctor found out that the patient suffered from dyspepsia and was under medication, but her condition worsened. The doctor substituted coamilofruse with bendrofluazide so that to improve her medical condition (National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health 1). At the hospital, the woman’s medical condition got worse further; an idea that contributed in development of hypertension and later heart failure. She stayed at the hospital for two months, and her family members failed to pay the accumulated medical bill because they were poor. However, one of the nurses working in that hospital happened to know the woman because she was a neighbour to the woman, but they were not in good terms. When the woman got a heart attack, she was rushed to Intensive Care Unit for further medication. Unfortunately, the nurse who knew the woman was on duty on that day and performed recitation on the woman. However, conflicts of interest compelled the nurse to contravene codes of conduct by subjecting the woman to wrong recitation procedure thus killing her instantly. The hospital management had to answer the charges leveled against them for incompetence and inefficiency in using the recitation machine.
References
White, L. (2001). Foundations of Nursing: Caring for the Whole Person. New York: Cengage Learning.
Erb, K. (2000). Fundamentals of Nursing: Concepts, Process and Practice. London: Benjamin-Cummings Publishing Company.
National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. (2011, February 9). Clinical case studies in heart failure management. BJCP. Retrieved August 3, 2013, from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2014219/
