Legal and Ethical Parameters of Professional Nursing Practice Essay One
Legal and ethical parameters of professional nursing practice essay one
Professional nurses encounter a variety of legal ethical and bioethical issues on a daily basis. For this reason, it is essential that all nurses are aware of current state and national legislation, acts and guidelines and the implications of these for nursing practices as well as legal processes, principles of open disclosure and the role of a coroner in the health sector. In this way, nurses can adhere to the overarching guidelines for practice as well as working within the code of conduct, competency standards and scope of practice. This paper will provide an overview of legal and ethical parameters of professional nursing practice.
Nurses must work within the guidelines of both the profession specific and national legislative guidelines. At an industry level, nurses must adhere to the principles of the Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics. The Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics are two companion documents developed by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC), the professional body that sets the national standards and processes for the regulation of nursing. The purpose of these documents is to identify the professional standards that all nurses are expected to uphold to ensure a positive view of the nursing profession. These documents are also essential in recognizing the expected behaviour of professional nurses to respect, promote and uphold the basic rights of all people, including both the patients and nursing and health care providers. Further the codes allow for reflection of the behaviour and conduct of nurses against expected standards of behaviour and practice and assist with making ethical and fair decisions.
As well as industry generated guidelines, state and federal legislation also guides nursing practice. A key guideline/legislation is the Nurse Practice Act (NPA). The Nurse Practice Act (NPA) defines nursing practice and, when used in
Professional nurses encounter a variety of legal ethical and bioethical issues on a daily basis. For this reason, it is essential that all nurses are aware of current state and national legislation, acts and guidelines and the implications of these for nursing practices as well as legal processes, principles of open disclosure and the role of a coroner in the health sector. In this way, nurses can adhere to the overarching guidelines for practice as well as working within the code of conduct, competency standards and scope of practice. This paper will provide an overview of legal and ethical parameters of professional nursing practice.
Nurses must work within the guidelines of both the profession specific and national legislative guidelines. At an industry level, nurses must adhere to the principles of the Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics. The Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics are two companion documents developed by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC), the professional body that sets the national standards and processes for the regulation of nursing. The purpose of these documents is to identify the professional standards that all nurses are expected to uphold to ensure a positive view of the nursing profession. These documents are also essential in recognizing the expected behaviour of professional nurses to respect, promote and uphold the basic rights of all people, including both the patients and nursing and health care providers. Further the codes allow for reflection of the behaviour and conduct of nurses against expected standards of behaviour and practice and assist with making ethical and fair decisions.
As well as industry generated guidelines, state and federal legislation also guides nursing practice. A key guideline/legislation is the Nurse Practice Act (NPA). The Nurse Practice Act (NPA) defines nursing practice and, when used in