Accountability In Nursing

In Jean Watson?s theory, ?caring requires the nurse to have a deep connection to the spirit within the self and to the spirit within the patient? (Lachman, 2012, p. 112), but, on a practical basis, cultivating such a close relationship with a patient may prove to be challenging. The emphasis on a transpersonal caring experience that transcends the self may be difficult to insert in a practical fashion into a busy nurse?s daily tasks when nurses are understaffed and have little time. However, many nurses resist the notion that care should be the primary ethical defining value of nursing, given that this female-dominated profession has often been denigrated as merely giving care, versus using evidence-based medicine (Woods, 2011). But defenders of an ethic of care in leadership stress the need for caring versus curing as an antidote to medicine which is purely ends-focused. ?Caring defines nursing, as curing often defines medicine? (Lachman, 2012, p. 113). The nurse?s role is to support the needs of the patient in conjunction with the patient?s social, psychological, and physical framework rather than simply focus on curing illness. Care is not simply sentimentality but rather reflects the need to make nursing a practical discipline on an individual basis for each and every patient in a unique fashion (Woods

The goals of nursing profession are involve ethical and protecting patients from harm (Kopala& Burkhart, 2005). It is looking at or investigating certain issues about human ability that concerned what ought to be, what is right, or wrong. Nurses have to face with patients, families, physicians, and other professionals who are a

I would like to start by sharing a quote from an unknown author: Being a nurse isn’t about grades, it’s about being who we are. No book can teach you how to cry with a patient. No class can teach you how to tell their family that their parent has died or is dying. No professor can teach you how to find dignity in giving someone a bed bath. A nurse is not about the pills or the charting. It’s about being able to love people when they are at their weakest moments.

The ‘6C’s’ were launched by England’s Chief Officer Jane Cummings who believes that the ‘6C’s’ stand for the commitment of each professional to provide outstanding care for patients, with dignity and compassion while continuing to remain consistent as they achieve excellent health and wellbeing outcomes (RCNI, 2015). The ‘6C’s consist of, care, compassion, competence, communication, courage, and commitment. However for this assignment the focus will lie primarily on courage, an important trait in life and in nursing practice (Dobos, 2015) .It allows us to be brave and do the right thing for the people that we are caring for (RCNI, 2015). Being courageous helps nurses identify poor practise and speak up reinforcing strategies to increase the best standard of care for patients. Various topics will be discussed throughout this assignment such as, why courage is important for nursing, how to be courageous as a nurse, the benefits of having courage as a nurse, and the current issues.

A literature search was carried out to find a definition of accountability using the BNI and CINHAL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) ‘accountability’ was inputted into the databases. 18,114 results from search engine BNI and 16,725 results were produced from CINHAL respectfully. Results were reduced as filters were applied (see appendices 2). Filters were applied, before titles, abstracts and whole articles were reviewed, this was the case for Mullen (2014) on CINHAL. Mullen (2014) was then analyzed regarding its content. 83 words

Accountability is taking responsibility for actions done. When providing care to patients, healthcare services providers are accountable for the patient-centered care (Weiss & Tappen, 2015, p. 57). As a nurse in charge of a task, we can be called to account for the outcomes, especially if something goes wrong. Moreover, we need to know that as a nurse we are accountable when we delegate tasks to others, such as nursing assistants. For example, if I delegate a job to a nurse assistant, I have to make sure that the nurse assistant who does the work can do it and that this person is under my constant supervision

Aiken (2002) study shows that the nursing shortage has negatively affected communication, nurse patient relationships and timeliness of care and overall competence of nurse’s professional identity. For example, the Francis report in 2013 at the mid Staffordshire foundation trust investigation had bad indication on nurses, healthcare and all the staff in connection to the negative and culture that caused harm to patient. In order to resolve this issue the NHS has to reflect on the nurses’ professional identity, encourage nurses, provide support, and reorganise the work environment (Buerhaus, 2007).

Sarah has worked in other medical settings prior to coming to a care facility and stated that so much burden and liability is placed on nurses especially in hospitals. Sarah’s positive attitude kept me inspired throughout my observations to continue my education in the medical field, although, I am now strongly considering different career

Caring is one of the most important words used to describe a nurse. Larson (1984) defines caring as the core, essence and distinguishing attribute of nursing. I believe that I possess the strength to care for others and behave in a caring manner. In the past I have shown my strength in this area of nursing care when looking after family members that have fallen victim to sickness. Whenever someone tells me that they are not feeling well, I immediately jump into action and try my best to make sure that they feel “cared for” .The feeling of pride and satisfaction I experience after caring for a person that is unwell is what originally made me choose nursing as a career. Caring is a basic attribute of human growth and development (Griffin 1983). This is why, as a nursing student I know it is such an important strength to be utilised when helping a patient to feel better.

This assignment is a reflection of ethical dilemmas in nursing practice as a registered nurse; this paper is based on the group assignment which was completed for NURS3004. This reflection will include an explanation of the role that I portrayed in the group, the preparation that I did for the role, what could have been done differently, how this group assignment has impacted me in terms of working in a team and finally explain how this assignment will assist me in my future clinical practice as a newly registered nurse.

In response to hospitals being under staffed with nurses, Theresa Brown argues that hospitals must have a sufficiently large nursing staff in her article “When No One Is on Call”. She effectively builds her argument by using personal anecdotes and statistics.

The idea of how nurses can conduct themselves in a daily basis for some can be viewed as they have it easy or least make it look easy and for others it’s world’s best job. The truth is being a nurse is very difficult job and it can be very labor intensive and very rewarding at the same time. Just think every time you go into the doctor’s office or have an overnight stay in the hospital what all to do your nurse during their shift? In an ideal world and scenario nurses have the perfect amount staff with all the proper equipment readily available. The truth of the matter is that in most cases nurses are short staffed and must maximize their time effectively and effortlessly unbeknown to patients.

The author highlights how vulnerable patients will give their trust to nurses, they should begin their relationship with a rapport (Price, 2017). “Patients often feel vulnerable and there can be an imbalance of power between the nurse and the patient; similarly, patients who are receiving treatment in hospital can find themselves in an unfamiliar environment” (Price, 2017). In this situation the client was degraded, there was an imbalance of power. The client had an unfamiliar caregiver, creating confusion and anxiety. To create a therapeutic relationship trust must be created, it requires effective communication, honesty, and respect. In addition, it is important for nurses to be accountable for their own behaviours, which relates to my situation. I did not stop to reflect my behaviour, as I was trying to complete the skill perfectly. By not creating a therapeutic relationship I put the client in a degrading position. My thoughts about this situation have improved after reading this article. It suggests new reflective exercise for the future, as well as describing how nurses have to trust the patient as much as the patient trusts them (Price, 2017). Overall, this article can benefit to nurses as it reasembles the importance of building trust to decrease

Nurses around the world have struggled with ethical challenges in patient care, especially here in the Virgin Islands. We face an ethical dilemma in the healthcare field every day. During my freshman year in nursing school, I was taught about Florence Nightingales. Her greatest achievement was to transform nursing into a respectable profession for women (Florence-nightingale.co.uk, 2018). She reflected ethical duties of confidentiality, communication, and the importance of meeting patients ' needs. As nurses, we are bound to uphold the foundational moral virtues, duties, and principles central to the nursing profession. However, it has become difficult for nurses around the world to practice with integrity. The healthcare environment is demanding for nurses at a time when there is a critical shortage of staff to meet the multifaceted needs of patients. During the clinical experience at the hospital, I’ve overheard many nurses stating they don’t like being called in on their day off or when

 RNs are responsible and accountable for their own actions in the therapeutic nurseclient relationship, including actions which result in outcomes that may have been unintended, but should have been foreseen.