Professionalism In The Medical Field
Professionalism is of the utmost importance when providing intimate care for vulnerable individuals, as seen in the field of nursing. While discussions are being frequently had regarding professional behavior in the caregiver role, literature has not carefully examined the use of professionalism as it relates to documentation in the electronic medical record (EMR). Communication via the EMR is becoming more widely used as technology develops and facilities make the transition away from paper charting. The EMR is currently the most direct way, other than face-to-face conversation, in which to share information between providers for a given patient. Because of this, it is essential that the information within the EMR is thorough, concise, and
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The nurse’s duty is to provide unbiased, informed care to those they serve. In providing such care, the nurse must be equipped with solid clinical judgement and moral standings. This foundation of care is shaped on the basis of identifying issues and what the individual can do to behave in a professional manner. “To consider ethical issues, some level of guidance about how to do so should be in place” (Epstein & Turner p. 2). The Nursing Code of Ethics identifies these guiding principles as central to their standards of behavior: advocacy, responsibility, accountability, and confidentiality. While “the ANA reviews and revises the code periodically… (these) remain constant” (Perry & Potter, 2017). These principles are made evident throughout nursing practice, including but not limited to: patient cares, communication with colleagues, patients, and providers, and documentation of all patient cares. Honest and efficient documentation of patient cares is of great importance throughout the nurse’s day as the electronic medical record provides all caregivers and providers with the most up-to-date and in-depth information regarding the patient’s current state. For this reason, it is essential to practice the guiding principles established by the ANA in all nursing …show more content…
Following the fore-mentioned guiding principles, nurses can more closely align themselves to be the ideal caregiver. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing identifies the definition of professional nursing as “the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations”, as adapted from the American Nurses Association. To summarize, nurses have a large responsibility at multiple contact points in the full spectrum of care for individuals on a larger scale. Often, the public views the nursing profession through a narrow lens which focuses on grueling physical tasks. What the public fails to reflect on is the demanding and complex ethical and moral fronts that nurses face daily. Widely discussed throughout the ANA’s Nursing Code of Ethics, “Nurses must create, maintain, and contribute to morally good environments that enable nurses to be virtuous” (ANA p. 23). Additionally, qualities that make up a strong moral foundation for nurses are as follows: “…knowledge, skill, wisdom, patience, compassion, honesty, altruism, and courage” (ANA p. 23). A definition, or a code describing how we ought to act is pointless unless the individual makes the
The nurse’s duty is to provide unbiased, informed care to those they serve. In providing such care, the nurse must be equipped with solid clinical judgement and moral standings. This foundation of care is shaped on the basis of identifying issues and what the individual can do to behave in a professional manner. “To consider ethical issues, some level of guidance about how to do so should be in place” (Epstein & Turner p. 2). The Nursing Code of Ethics identifies these guiding principles as central to their standards of behavior: advocacy, responsibility, accountability, and confidentiality. While “the ANA reviews and revises the code periodically… (these) remain constant” (Perry & Potter, 2017). These principles are made evident throughout nursing practice, including but not limited to: patient cares, communication with colleagues, patients, and providers, and documentation of all patient cares. Honest and efficient documentation of patient cares is of great importance throughout the nurse’s day as the electronic medical record provides all caregivers and providers with the most up-to-date and in-depth information regarding the patient’s current state. For this reason, it is essential to practice the guiding principles established by the ANA in all nursing …show more content…
Following the fore-mentioned guiding principles, nurses can more closely align themselves to be the ideal caregiver. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing identifies the definition of professional nursing as “the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations”, as adapted from the American Nurses Association. To summarize, nurses have a large responsibility at multiple contact points in the full spectrum of care for individuals on a larger scale. Often, the public views the nursing profession through a narrow lens which focuses on grueling physical tasks. What the public fails to reflect on is the demanding and complex ethical and moral fronts that nurses face daily. Widely discussed throughout the ANA’s Nursing Code of Ethics, “Nurses must create, maintain, and contribute to morally good environments that enable nurses to be virtuous” (ANA p. 23). Additionally, qualities that make up a strong moral foundation for nurses are as follows: “…knowledge, skill, wisdom, patience, compassion, honesty, altruism, and courage” (ANA p. 23). A definition, or a code describing how we ought to act is pointless unless the individual makes the