Values for Professional Practice
In this essay, I am going to describe an episode of care for an individual which I was involved in whilst on placement at a local nursing home. I am going to choose an appropriate model and reflect on this episode and within this reflection examine my own values and beliefs relating to the individual receiving care. I will also explore the values and beliefs that will underpin my future practice as a nurse.
Values are ideals, attitudes and beliefs held by individuals or groups to represent what they consider to be important. They are used to guide behaviour as are morals, which provide standards of behaviour where a decision about right and wrong is required (Chitty 2005). It is believed that professional values learned during training, together with individuals altruistic reasons for wanting to work in healthcare will provide a moral framework that lasts throughout their professional life (Tyreman 2011).
Most professions have an ethical code, such as The Code set out by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC 2008). These codes give basic guidelines which individuals can apply to different situations when deciding which actions to take and set standards of conduct which nurses need to deliver consistently throughout their career (NMC 2008). There is also Guidance on Professional Conduct (NMC 2011) which is specifically for student nurses and midwives. A code of practice sets out behaviours and actions that are assumed to be correct in a given situation and a good code should reflect what the majority of professional would do in that situation anyway (Tyreman 2011).
In 1970 the health care system began looking holistically at the patient and their rights, rather than just treating them medically. This is termed as bioethics, and focuses on situations individually, using ethical principles to determine the best course of action (Chitty 2005).
During my nursing home placement, I was able to work with the nurses who came into the home each day to attend
Values are ideals, attitudes and beliefs held by individuals or groups to represent what they consider to be important. They are used to guide behaviour as are morals, which provide standards of behaviour where a decision about right and wrong is required (Chitty 2005). It is believed that professional values learned during training, together with individuals altruistic reasons for wanting to work in healthcare will provide a moral framework that lasts throughout their professional life (Tyreman 2011).
Most professions have an ethical code, such as The Code set out by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC 2008). These codes give basic guidelines which individuals can apply to different situations when deciding which actions to take and set standards of conduct which nurses need to deliver consistently throughout their career (NMC 2008). There is also Guidance on Professional Conduct (NMC 2011) which is specifically for student nurses and midwives. A code of practice sets out behaviours and actions that are assumed to be correct in a given situation and a good code should reflect what the majority of professional would do in that situation anyway (Tyreman 2011).
In 1970 the health care system began looking holistically at the patient and their rights, rather than just treating them medically. This is termed as bioethics, and focuses on situations individually, using ethical principles to determine the best course of action (Chitty 2005).
During my nursing home placement, I was able to work with the nurses who came into the home each day to attend