Professional nursing is based on altruism, integrity, accountability and social justice. Judgments and practice that are based with those ethical values will always be in the best interest of the patient, no matter what the professional…
professionals use the best evidence possible to make clinical decisions (Blais and Hayes, 2011). It involves complex and conscientious decision-making based not only on the available evidence but also on patient characteristics, situations, and preferences.…
As registered health professionals, nurses must abide by the registered nurse standards of practice enforced by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). In Australia, all registered nurses(RN) are held accountable to follow these standards in their current practice as they explain what is expected of them in the workplace, what is encouraged and acts in which can result in a loss of registration. Standard 2 of the registered nurse standards of practice set by NMBA(2016) is “Engages in therapeutic and professional relationships”. Therapeutic relationships, also referred to as nurse-patient relationships are relationships that aim to benefit the client and provide sound knowledge and ability to recover from their illness (Berman…
In most setups, the nurse is not allowed enough time to foster a practical relationship with the patient to know more about his/her needs that should be catered to. As a consequence, the nurse may feel compromised, with the burden of not performing the job well or being unjust towards professional commitments. Nurses can also face over-work as a challenge, especially in situations where their work requires them to deliver more than they are capable of.…
The nurse entered the patient's room without knocking, then proceeded to grab the blood pressure cuff and take a blood pressure, then the pulse and respirations, and pulse oximetry. Other than saying that she was there to take the vital signs, she did not speak a word to the patient. When she was done taking the vital signs, she simply left the room without another word. This nurse completed a necessary task of being a nurse; however, did not focus on anything other than that task. During this interaction with the patient, this nurse did not have a connection between herself and the patient. She did not allow an increase in energy, coherence, and creativity for the patient. She did not offer any chance for personal growth and recovery for this…
I believe that the core of nursing is in the nurse-patient relationship. Nurses have the abilities to develop a therapeutic relationship that focuses on the needs of the patients. The best way to achieve effective nurse-patient relationship is through communication. Communication barriers have been one of the major causes of poor patient care. And if these communication barriers were lifted, it can help the nurse earn the patients’ trust while also creating some boundaries.…
The mission of the College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia (the College: CRNNS) is “Registered nurses regulating their profession to promote excellence in nursing practice.” The purpose of this document is to stimulate discussion about expectations for the professional behavior of registered nurses in nurse-client relationships and to provide a framework within which registered nurses can reflect on their actions and determine what constitutes appropriate behaviour. The focus of discussion is on recognizing and respecting professional boundaries in nurse-client relationships, and on what may be done when professional boundaries are crossed. Professional boundaries separate the therapeutic behavior of a registered nurse from any behavior which, well intentioned or not, could reduce the benefit of nursing care to patients, clients, families, and communities. Recognizing and respecting professional boundaries may be straight forward in some instances, but very complex in others. The CRNNS’ beliefs about therapeutic nurse-client relationships are outlined. Signs that should alert nurses to the presence of a professional boundary issue are discussed, and examples of instances where professional boundaries have been crossed or violated are provided. Scenarios that illustrate several points about professional boundaries for educational purposes are also included. Finally, options and solutions for professional boundary issues are proposed, including the resources and assistance available to registered nurses and to Nova Scotians.…
Nurses care for patient is a very “demanding environment, hierarchies, prolonged work hours, multiple roles and emotional demands” (Waite et al., p. 126, 2014). When conflict arises, it can be emotionally stressful for the nurse, “which can lead to ineffective patient care compromising patient safety” (Klinkhamer, p.337, 2015) negatively impacting the healthcare organization’s reputation.…
Nurses are highly accountable to patients, the public, employers, and the entire profession. It is imperative they have a sound understanding of various ethical, legal and professional issues they will face during their careers. There are three primary duties for nurses, among many others, which are the duty of autonomy, confidentiality, and duty of care to all patients. These duties are supplemented by the principles of beneficence, meaning promoting or doing good and acting in patients’ best interests, and non-maleficence, meaning to avoid harm. These are professional…
Non-sexual boundary issues consist of giving your client special treatment over your other clients such as spending more time on them due to their attractiveness, being too friendly, special and unnecessary appointments that are outside your normal practicing hours, and dressing inappropriately (Aravind, 2012). Nurses should also be hesitant to accept gifts or give gifts to patients (Aravind, 2012). The nurse-client relationship should always be based on the client’s needs. Nurses should also be cautious of sexual boundary issues. This is when the nurse and client enter an intimate relationship that is harmful to the patient’s therapy (Aravind, 2012). Avoiding these violations in the nurse-client relationship is a key part of demonstrating professionalism as a…
In nursing school we are trained to become patient advocates. Although most patients ensure their needs are being met, there are some that do not know how to ask. When patients and their families are thoroughly involved in their care the outcomes are far greater than those that aren’t. When I walk into each clinical I am prepared to see more than just patient care. I prepare myself to see my nurse’s interactions with their patients whether they be positive or negative. I come to clinical ready to see interactions beyond passing meds and patient care. Incalculably, majority of my clinical experiences have been positive. Virtually all the nurses I have encountered have been able to do their jobs methodically. The best is seeing nurses progress further to form meaningful interactions. Each one of them has…
The nurse-patient relationship is central to patient satisfaction and sets a tone of the care experience. Nurses are the health care professionals that spends the most time with the patients. By analyzing and understanding the factors that have the greatest impact on overall patient satisfaction, nurses can aim, and can focus their efforts, energies, and resources on improvements with the greatest potential to enhance the patients experience. There are many principles that nurses should use to build a healthy, careful balance of trust, and professional respect with the patients. However, there are also benefits as well as challenges to developing nurse-patient relationship. Ellen Meeropol(2011) in House Arrest, a captivating, and compelling fiction book, examines an unlikely relationship between two woman who , on the surface, could not be more different. Pippa is pregnant and under house arrest for the death of her daughter , and Emily is the nurse assigned to manage Pippa’s prenatal care. As the story unfolds Meeropol uses her twenty-year nursing expertise to describe the relationship of the two women. The question is what is that particular, purposeful relationship that nurse and patient sometimes partake? This paper will examine the nurse-patient relationship, showing the positive and the most challenging elements so that there can be a deeper understanding and admiration for patients and the impact on the nurse and the patients.…
Habel, M. (December 22, 2005). The Power of Change. Retrieved October 7, 2006, from http://www.2.nursingspectrum.com…
* Assumptions about Nurses: The nurse’s reaction to each patient is unique. Nurses should not add to the patients distress…
According to our Keele text (2007), nurses are expected to know and practice evidence based care to create the best outcome for the individual patient (Keele, 2007, p. 9). Nurses play a significant role in all patient outcomes due to their responsibilities for practicing and advocating for specific standards of practice outlined by EBP and defined within their scope of practice and the Nursing Code of Ethics. Therapeutical nursing practices include not just implementing treatments, but evaluating those treatments’ outcomes. Nursing research is essential in determining patient safety issues and improving patient outcomes due to the nurse being the closest point of care provider for the patient. It is the nurse’s observations that help direct and manage the path that a patient’s care may take. With the nurse as the closest observer of the patient, it only makes sense that nurses play the intricate role in the research of patient improvements or disparities, alike, especially since we are the implementers of the prescribed treatments. We see firsthand what is working and what is not working, and it is our duty to advocate for what our patients need, and report what is not working or causing harm.…