This article was originally published on Kaplan Test Prep’s Calling All Nurses
In our ever-changing health care system, nurses are consistently challenged to maintain strong ethics in nursing in the face of a fast-paced work environment. In this series so far, we defined the nine Provisions of Nursing Ethics, and we highlighted three of the most common ethical dilemmas nurses face.
In the final part of this three part series, we are providing easy strategies for you to incorporate these nine Provisions of Nursing Ethics into your nursing practice:
Ethics in nursing strategy 1
Provision 1: The nurse practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes of every person.
Strategy: Treat your clients like you would want to be treated, or as if they are a loved one. This will help you give compassionate care at all times.
Ethics in nursing strategy 2
Provision 2: The nurse’s primary commitment is to the client, whether an individual, family, group, community, or population.
Strategy: Remember that your State Issued RN license is a contract between you and your clients. When it comes to the delivery of safe client care, your supervisor and/or facility administration takes the back seat until you have safely completed all required care.
Ethics in nursing strategy 3
Provision 3: The nurse promotes, advocates for, and protects the rights, health, and safety of the client.
Strategy: Using the nursing process greatly assists the nurse in upholding this provision. Knowing what is best for the client comes from interviewing, assessing client data, and observations made. Always think of the anticipated outcomes for the client, and you will naturally promote, advocate for, and protect the client.
Ethics in nursing strategy 4
Provision 4: the nurse has authority, accountability, and responsibility for the nursing practice; makes decisions, and takes actions consistent with the obligation to promote health and provide optimal care.
Strategy: This is similar to Provision 2, where the RN is required to dedicate themselves to the client while in their care, and assume all responsibility of care provided. The best way to practice within Provision 4 is to always do your best, and when mistakes occur, own them and seek guidance right away.
Ethics in nursing strategy 5
The nurse owes the same duties to self as to others, including the responsibility to promote health and safety, preserve wholeness of character and integrity, maintain competence, and continue personal and professional growth.
Strategy: Taking care of oneself is easier said than done, however it is essential to the delivery of safe and effective client care. Here is a great Nursing the Nurse series that provides tips for maintaining optimal health as a nurse.
Ethics in nursing strategy 6
Provision 8: The nurse, through individual and collective effort, establishes, maintains, and improves the ethical environment of the work setting and conditions of employment that are conducive to safe, quality health care.
Strategy: The best way to help create an ethical work environment is to set an example by role modeling ethical behavior, and holding others accountable. Be sure to know your facility’s procedure for reporting unethical behaviors in the event that a report needs to be made.
Ethics in nursing strategy 7
Provision 7: The nurse, in all roles and settings, advances the profession through research and scholarly inquiry, professional standards development, and the generation of both nursing and health policy.
Strategy: Besides returning to school for an advanced degree in nursing, becoming a member of a professional nursing organization or a nursing journal is an easy way to advance your profession through scholarly inquiry. Also, as you move throughout your nursing career, finding yourself in leadership, education or health policy positions will ensure that you are building professional standards and shaping the policies that guide nursing practice.
Ethics in nursing strategy 8
Provision 8: The nurse collaborates with other health professionals and the public to protect human rights, promote health diplomacy, and reduce health disparities.
Strategy: Community Nurses are the primary resource for upholding Provision 8, however even if you are not working in the Community Nursing specialty, you can volunteer and get involved on a larger scale.
Ethics in nursing strategy 9
Provision 9: The profession of nursing, collectively through its professional organizations, must articulate nursing values, maintain the integrity of the profession, and integrate principles of social justice into nursing and health policy.
Strategy: The best way to meet the ethical requirements of this provision is by upholding nursing values and demonstrating integrity in your daily practice.
Best Wishes!
-Damion
