Nurses have a moral obligation to protect a client from slander by withholding personal information concerning the illness itself or any other known social problems, which may be assessed or diagnosed. Information must only be shared or discussed among staff members if it is associated directly with a nursing intervention. ‘The nurse has a moral obligation to do good, and the patient has a right to expect that he or she will derive some benefit from that good.’ (Legal Issues in Nursing). Precisely, to professionally link roles and image the issue of ethics becomes dominant as personal perspectives are considered. My personal philosophy is closely linked to Kathy Douglas’s view point as it relates to social justice, especially, when taken from the Canadian Nursing ethical Standards. It is my belief that the role of nurses must fit into the nursing image. If a need arises whereby social service organizations cannot provide the facilities they promised the public, nursing roles must not have to be affected. Systems must change to take care of any adjustments within the structure so that the image of nursing can be preserved as being ethical. (Canadian Nurses Association)
Discuss the relationship between nursing image and the role of the nurse from the personal perspective including the potential impact of these perceptions on future professional nursing practice.
Introduction
Subsequently, considering the numerous contemporary nursing issues and the application of principles and standards as it pertains to image creation and role play, the reality of ethics forms an integral aspect of the perception. The great question of what constitutes ethics as it relates to image and roles within the profession must be addressed distinctly.
Precisely, this becomes a major bone of contention in defining the boundaries regarding what is an acceptable role in designing the image of both contemporary and traditional nurse such as the Florence Nightingale perception. The measuring instrument provided by ethics is expected to cover every day interaction with society, home; on the job and most frequently in the community where the image is really created from a personal perspective.
In the following pages of this paper the writer will discuss the relationship between nursing image and the role of the nurse from a personal point of view. This is expected to include a projection of the potential impact these perceptions will have on future professional nursing practice. .
Relationship between Image and role
Once the client is admitted to a Skilled Managed Nursing Care facility nurses’ responsibility, according to Nursing Ethics policy, in Canada and many other parts of the world is to maintain the client’s dignity. This involves showing respect for the client’s cultural beliefs and practices. At no time is the nurse allowed to display any discriminatory behavior towards the client neither his relatives based on his/her own cultural orientation. During interaction with patients it is very important that the staff makes ‘decisions through a reasoning process that incorporates professional judgments, clinical observations and practical matters of feasibility.’(Legal Issues in Nursing)
Nurses have a moral obligation to protect the client from slander by withholding personal information concerning the illness itself or any other known social problems, which may be assessed or diagnosed. Information must only be shared or discussed among staff members if it is associated directly with a nursing intervention. ‘The nurse has a moral obligation to do good, and the patient has a right to expect that he or she will derive some benefit from that good.’ (Legal Issues in Nursing).This is what every patient or client expects of a nurse; whenever they have to interact with one, wherever, this is the basic expectancy image
In a journal article written by Kathy Douglas founder and President of the Institute for Staffing Excellence and Innovation, she tells the naked truth concerning, staffing in Hospitals, Nursing homes and Rehabilitation centers. This was done to provide the premise of how roles interplay with image in nursing intervention. She declared, ‘The world of Staffing is a mess” (Douglas, 2008). Here the issue is identified as, ‘Staffing in Health Care Needs an Overhaul’ (Douglas, 2008) emphasizing the diversity of the population. There are two significant variables; the client receiving care and the roles performed by a professional rendering care. She targets nurse patient relevance as the burning issue.
Further, it was explained how nursing image is reflected in the roles nurses have to perform. True, there are various categories of nurses within health care administration. The patent or client is not quite aware of all these specializations within the profession. When a patient or client interacts with a nurse the expectation is that the most appropriate care would be given.
Douglas’ argument is that inadequate staffing significantly reduces the roles which have to be performed. So, it reflects on the nurse’s image in relation to the how well they can function. As such, she advocates evidenced based nursing practice to improve nurses’ image profile considering the roles they carry out from time to time.
Personal Perspectives
The ethical principles referenced show that it is proper professional practice to have units adequately staffed. Patient / client ratios are ethically important to the delivery of quality care. Also, there should be evidenced based staffing where there is the right Nurse for the right patient at the right time in maintaining the role image climate. (Douglas, 2008)
Hence, there will be no compromising of roles within the profession in terms of delivery of care whereby a Licensed Practical Nurse( LPN) has to perform in the role of a Registered Nurse because of immerse shortages in the profession for skilled nurses to perform their roles effectively. What then is the image of the “nurse” who has to enact a role for which he or she was not adequately trained? Ethically, it is inappropriate and secondly it puts the nurse’s image at risk of ridicule when errors occur. Precisely, the nurse did what he/she knew best. ((Erlen, 2001)
My Personal Philosophy
My personal philosophy is closely linked to Kathy Douglas’s view point as it relates to social justice, especially, when taken from the Canadian Nursing ethical Standards. It is my belief that the role of nurses must fit into the nursing image. If a need arises whereby social service organizations cannot provide the facilities they promised the public, nursing roles must not have to be affected. Systems must change to take care of any adjustments within the structure so that the image of nursing can be preserved as ethical. (Canadian Nurses Association)
Part II of the Canadian Code of ethics clearly outlines thirteen “ethical endeavors,” with the intention of guiding nurses as they play their roles within the profession. “Nurses should endeavor as much as possible, individually and collectively, to advocate for and work toward eliminating social inequities through the ethical endeavors. These endeavors address issues related to access, change, choice, equality and rights.” (Ethics in Nursing)
It is my observation that ethical distress is prevalent in our nursing societies around the world. I strongly support the view that there are six major reasons for this. These are institutional, economic, political, technological, social and cultural. How is nursing image sustained within the boundaries of the social justice advocated by the Canadian Nurses Code when these factors affect the roles we perform daily? Hence, “the world of Staffing is a mess.” Evidence based Nursing practice is important as a nursing image criterion for roles to be made easier to perform. (Douglas, 2008)
Potential Impact on the future
There appears to be a gap in the relationship between nursing image and roles. Precisely, the roles are wrapped up in duties the nurse performs as a professional. From my perspective as a nurse these roles determine the perception when creating an image of me as a nurse and another individual who carries out those roles.
The impact of my perspective and philosophies are suggestive of solutions focused on a new approach to staffing techniques in the Health Care System. “ The bringing together of someone with a specific set of needs and someone who has the skills; experience and credentials to assist with those needs is staffing.’ (Douglas, 2008). Precisely, the solution of evidenced based patient client ratio relevance is the key to complying with the ethical expectations in this discipline making an acceptable nursing image possible.
As it relates specifically, to my philosophical assumptions regarding image and roles; in future a nurse must project values that are moralist and beneficial to the client under his/her care. If a nurse cannot be trusted to improve life, then where are the ethnics of nursing? (Hamric, 2000)
Conclusion
Conclusively, “If we open our minds, leverage experience and ideas from across disciplines, facilities and geographies, we can uncover new approaches to staffing that can better serve our future.” (Douglas, 2008). It will not only irradiate unethical practices, but also bring integrity to the profession by creating a better image.
References
Douglas, Kathy. (2008) The Naked Truth: Staffing in Health care needs Overhaul. Nursing Economics$, 27(5), 259-265.
Canadian Nurses Association (2002). Code of ethics for registered nurses. Ottawa: Author
Erlen, J. (2001). Moral distress: A passive problem: Orthopedic Nursing. , 20(2), 76-80.
Hamric, A. (2000). Moral issues in every day ethics: Nursing Outlook. , 48, 199-201.
Legal Issues in Nursing. “Ethical Decision Making”. Retrieved (2011, July 2) from
htpp://www.corexcel.com/courses4/html/body_nursing_ethics_page1.html.
Nursing ethics: Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses (2008 Centennial Edition. Retrieved
(2011, July 2) from http://www.cna-nurses.ca/CNA/practice/ethics/code/default_e.aspx
htpp://www.corexcel.com/courses4/html/body_nursing_ethics_page1.html.
