...Implementing ethico-legal issues in nursing practice. Caldwell, E., Lu, H., & Harding, T. (2010). Encompassing multiple moral paradigms: a challenge for nursing educators. Nursing Ethics 17(2), 189-199. Retrieved August3, 2010, from Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition Database. Aim: As society becomes increasingly globalised, it is imperative to include international educational perspectives in the nursing profession (Robinson, Sportsman, Eschiti, Bradshaw and Bol, (2006). Caldwell, Lu & Harding (2010) argue that the quality of nursing care necessitates nurses to reflect on nursing ethics in relation to their individual principled way of life. Cadwell, Lu & Harding (2010) paper explores these ideas. Summary: The fundamental nature of professional development implies personal development (Glen, 2005). ‘Encompassing multiple moral paradigms: a challenge for nursing educators’, is an in-depth analysis of nursing ethical dilemmas; the efforts that are undertaken to implement professional development through reflection, self-monitoring and self-control; and the challenges for nurse educators to integrate the syllabus into real-life clinical practice situations. Caldwell, Lu & Harding (2010) study analyses nursing ethics, Chinese ethical philosophies, and Judeo/Christian traditions as they endeavour to demonstrate the real-life issues of morally conflicting situations in nursing practice within these groups and the possible legal consequences. Relevant to topic yes/no...
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...The Role of Nursing Advocacy Across all Healthcare Settings Nursing is an autonomous profession where lives are saved every day. Nursing advocacy can affect patient outcomes. As the nursing profession evolves and responsibilities increase, it is necessary to better understand the concept of nursing advocacy. The role of advocacy is not new for the nursing profession, but the nature of advocacy in the nursing practice remains ambiguous. Nurses are obligated to act as an advocate for their patients, but there is lack of clarity on how to perform this role. The purpose of this paper is to better understand nursing advocacy and to explore ways it is practiced across all fields of nursing in order to promote improved patient care. Advocacy is an essential role for the nursing profession; however, it can be affected by many factors. The goal of advocacy is to balance the relationship between the healthcare system and the patients who are served by evaluating patient/family needs, providing information and education, ensuring access to proper care and supporting the patient and family’s decision within the structure of a multidisciplinary team. This paper will explore the following research question: What are the variables that affect the role of nursing advocacy and in what ways is it practiced across all fields of nursing? Review of Literature Introduction The general topic of the review of literature is nursing advocacy. We are examining and exploring a clearer definition...
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...Historical Development of Nursing Timeline Nursing as a profession has evolved dramatically over the last 150 years. From Florence Nightingale to current theorists, nursing has entered a new era. Theories are a collaboration of philosophies, other healthcare disciplines or fields, religious beliefs, and most importantly documented personal or professional experiences. The advancement of practice, pharmaceuticals, and technology have transformed nursing into a more complicated science. Nurses are expected to do more with fewer resources and the patient-centered care vanishes in the mix, but patient advocacy is imperative to nursing. As stated by Selanders and Crane (2012) “modern nursing is complex, ever changing, and multi-focused. Since the time of Florence Nightingale, however, the goal of nursing has remained unchanged, namely to provide a safe and caring environment that promotes patient health and well-being. Effective use of an interpersonal tool, such as advocacy, enhance the care-giving environment.” This paper will focus on the nursing theorists that have continued to emphasize advocacy through effective communication and interpersonal relationships. Florence Nightingale-Environment Theory Known as the founder of modern nursing, Nightingale is the theorist that most nurses can readily recall. Her desire to treat patients with a holistic approach has been influential to nursing advancing from an art to a science. Her theories have been studied and...
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...Differences: The functional differences between a regulatory agency, like the Texas Board of Nursing and a Professional Nursing Organization, like with Texas Nurses Association, are many. Even though both agencies support nursing, they do in different ways. The mission statement of the Texas Board of Nursing is as follows: “The mission of the Texas Board of Nursing is to protect and promote the welfare of the people of Texas by ensuring that each person holding a license as a nurse in the State of Texas is competent to practice safely” ("Mission and Values," n.d., para. 1). One of the primary roles of the BON is license issues. They issue and renew licenses for nurses in the State of Texas. They issue all licenses to graduates of approved nursing education programs. All nurses are required to renew their licenses on a biennial basis with evidence of required continuing education. In the State of Texas, RN’s must have twenty hours of CEU’s every two years for this renewal process. The BON enforces the NPA (Nurse Practice Act) and nursing education, conducting investigations of complaints against nurses and adjudicating complaints ("Licensure Renewal," n.d.). Texas Nurses Association (TNA) is a professional nursing organization with supports and advocates for nurses. The mission statement of the TNA is as follows: “Advancing the nursing profession through leadership, collaboration, advocacy and innovation” ("Mission," n.d., para. 1). The TNA was founded in 1907 in Fort Worth, Texas...
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...Before anyone embarks or study nursing, one should first of all understand the Genesis of the nursing profession. In the year 1860, a young woman by the name of Florence Nightingale became a pioneer of the nursing profession. She was popularly referred to as the“lady with the lamp” and the “queen of the nurses”. She dedicated most of her life to this chosen carrier to care for the sick and the wounded soldiers during the Crimean War. Her ideas led to the introduction of apprentice model which was an avenue for people to learn skilled nursing. She selected those with upstanding character as potential nurses; she improved the sanitary conditions within patients’ environments, and advocating that nursing education be a life- long process. She was also the found of Florence Nightingale school of nursing at St. Thomas Hospital in London where student learn about the care and important of good hygiene and sanitary condition. Many nursing leaders such as Dorothy Dix, Clare Bartan, Harriet Tubman, Lillian Wald, etc, played a major role in shaping the nursing profession ( Creasian and Freiberg, 2001). One of the most valuable trends that have influenced my nursing practice is nursing advocacy. Florence Nightingale utilized her most outstanding advocacy skills to promote nursing and prove that it is an integral component of health care. Today I use my advocacy skills in many forms. To implement patient’s safety to prevent fall, when a patient needs my help to understand the plan of...
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...(2011)explains that communication has become a fundamental element of care at every level of nursing practice. Studies have shown that managers spent 70 to 90 percent of their time in communicating with their teams and others at the workplace. According to Mike Myatt (2012), Effective communication is an essential component of professional success, “whether it is at the interpersonal, intergroup, intragroup, organizational, or external level”. Examination of great leaders shows that It is simply impossible to become a great leader without being a great communication. The literature on effective...
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...In order to understand the nursing profession today and to have a "sense of identity"(Creasia & Frieberg,2001,p.3), we need to be familiar with the origins of this noble profession. It was during the year 1860, Florence Nightingale the "lady with the lamp" and "queen of nurses" passionately laid the foundation of modern nursing. Her continuous dedication and commitment towards the betterment of humanity and improving the standards of health care paved the way to a dynamic profession. She consistently worked hard to improve the living conditions of the sick and the wounded soldiers by providing skilled nursing care during the Crimean War. This led to the initiation of the "apprentice model" which provided the grounds for skill nursing. She was the founder of the Nightingale School of Nursing at St. Thomas Hospital in London, where nursing students would learn about patient care, importance of good hygiene and sanitary conditions. Many nursing leaders such as Dorothy Dix, Clara Bartan, Harriet Tubman, Lillian Wald, etc. played a major role in shaping the nursing profession (Creasia & Frieberg,2001). One of the most valuable trend that has influenced my nursing practice is nursing advocacy. Florence Nightingale utilized her most effective advocacy skills to promote nursing and prove that it is an integral component of health care. Today, I practice the advocacy skills in many forms. When a patient needs my help to understand the plan of care, to bring attention to the potential...
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...There are several types of advocacy. People are different from each other and their needs for support are different and might change during their life. There are several types of advocacy an example of these are case advocacy, self-advocacy, formal, professional, or paid advocacy also legal advocacy. Nursing advocate ensures that the voice of the patients are being heard and respected. Nursing advocate helps to promote the patients’ rights, making improvements in the healthcare environment. Advocacy makes sure that the service users voice has been heard and respect their opinions. The advocate should make sure that they are talking on only the service user’s behalf, they shouldn’t express their own...
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...The knowledge of the foundation and history of nursing provides a context to understand current practice is by, recognizing the nursing theories and framework set up prior nurses. We learn from Florence Nightingale, Dorothea Lynde Dix, Mary Mahoney, and other great nursing professionals of nursing practices performed in the past and how it evolved overtime. For example Florence Nightingale’s ascertainment and research contributed to development of environmental theory. It states, “the incidence of disease is related to ...the want of fresh air, or of light, or of warmth, or of quiet or of cleanliness.” (Selanders & Crane). The theory incorporated the recovery of the patient into the delivery of the healthcare. The patient not only needs medication but a clean sanitary environment for recovery. The environmental theory is still widely practiced in every hospital and medical center today demonstrating patient comfort. There were many trends in nursing practice demonstrated by the interactive timeline, the first one I choose was by Alexain Brothers in 14th century. He helped those suffering from black death, at that time primary nursing care was given by men. It is surprise to me, because predominate nurses are female in today’s society. After reading this article it has definitely changed my perspective of nursing, it feels great to know that male nurses also helped and contributed in the foundation of nursing. The second trend I choose was by St. Vincent De Paul, He helped...
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...Nurse as an Advocate Nursing Leadership Health Policy Advocating for Health Care Policies. Nurse’s Vital Role as Policy Advocates Introduction “I’m not discouraged because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward” Thomas Edison (1847-1931). In today’s healthcare system, nurses are aware of the inconsistencies and the troubles that the healthcare system faces, and a need for a change. Expert nurses and nurses with vast experience are stepping forward and motivated to take part in advocacy roles. This movement is initiating a great wave of change in nursing world and how nurses influence a change in policies, regulations and law that oversee the health care system. Nurses stepping into this arena requires great deal of courage and knowledge on how the policies and politics interchange hands to implement a major change in health care system. The nurses who step up into this role should have the will, power and with power comes responsibility to negotiate through the legal system. Methods to advocate for health Nurses taking part in advocacy is not new anymore, but what advocacy means is still a mystery in nursing world. Great theorist like Florence Nightingale and her efforts, did influence other nurses throughout the nursing profession to step out of the box and shape the health system, where discover, heal and teach remains the core motto. Nurses throughout the world in some shape or form initiated policy recommendations, represented their view...
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... Personal Leadership Development Plan Angelica Doloroso University of Phoenix Nursing 587/Leadership and Management in Nursing and Healthcare Marcia Lyles, MSN, EDD, PhD. January 5, 2006 Personal Leadership Development Plan It has been my experience that health care professionals as well as consumers are becoming more verbal about the inadequacies of the health care system. It is clear that improvement is necessary. There are many roads to improvement of the system, one of which is the proper use of the Advance Nurse Practitioner. With this role properly developed, the Advanced Nurse Practitioner can effect many changes both in and out of the hospital setting. It is for this reason that I chose to advance my practice as a nurse. As an advanced practice clinician, I will be able to make a difference in the community by contributing to the enlargement of the primary care workforce to meet the population’s primary care needs. Within the next five years, I view myself in an advanced practice role, that of a Nurse Practitioner serving the adult population in an outpatient clinical setting. As an advanced practice clinician and leader, my efforts will be directed at ensuring that effective health care is provided to the patients that will result in improved quality and health outcomes. At the local level, I will have a strong influence on my team in my area of clinical practice. This involves identifying the steps required to develop excellence in care for a group...
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...October 9, 2012 Nursing has not always practiced advocacy; rather, it is a relatively new role for nursing emerging in the United States in the 1980s (Hanks, R. 2007). As a professional nurse it is our duty to serve as our patients advocates. They rely on us to do so. Nurses are considered the protector’s of patient’s rights. The American Nurses Association is dedicated to quality nursing and safety of the patients and this comes in the form of advocacy. By creating initiatives that increase awareness both among legislators and the general community, the ANA is able to encourage legislation on vital issues such as safe patient handling and patients' rights. This is how the role of advocate addresses social justice. Championing social justice in the provision of health care is a core attribute of advocacy (Bu, X. & Jezewski M. 2006). The meaning of this core attribute is based on the ethics of justice and reflects the social advocacy model. This model calls for nurses to vigorously make every effort for changes on the behalf of patients, communities and humanity as a whole, so that problems are identified and corrected. Nurses need to be community advocates and be involved in issues related to the health and welfare for people. The strategies we as nurses and professional associations need to do in order to continue to push for change in health care is to promote effective communication and coordination of care. We need to work together and promote practices that support healthy...
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...“Since 1973 advocacy has been considered a major component of nursing practice - politically, socially, professionally, and academically” (Selanders & Crane, 2012). With the complexity of today’s health issues, coupled with co-morbidities, multiple readmissions, and lack of understanding of diagnoses and medications, it is more important than ever that nurses advocate for their patients. Nurses are usually the first and last person a patient interacts with in the hospital or outpatient setting. They are also the person patients have the most contact with during their stay in the hospital and patients tend to express their concerns more openly with nurses then they do with anyone else. It’s up to the nurse to then advocate for the patient...
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...Patient Advocacy Advocacy is the heart and soul of nursing practice. We as nurses believe that we hold the patients’ safety and care in our hands, and we do. Many nurses give this advocate role a lot thought, considering looking out for our patients’ well-being is a big part of our daily job. Nurses are at the front lines of care, and we have a good handle on the issues and what the patients need more than other clinicians. Advocating is about standing up for the rights of your patients and firmly defending them even if you personally may not agree. Your personal feelings of preferences are put aside, since health care is about the patient and their needs, not us the caregivers. According to (Sylvan, 2013), Registered Nurses (RN) have a complex role in advocating for patients. The definition of advocacy varies according to who is providing the definition and the health care setting in which she acts. Many ethical, professional and personal issues are involved that require appropriate education, experience and judgment (Sylvan, 2013). Advocacy ranges from activities on behalf of patients, such as hand washing and proper identification before treatments, to arguing that an early discharge will harm her patient's recovery and etc…. Advocacy also means, if a nurse observes a practice or procedure she believes to be wrong, advocating for the patient demands means, she will speak out even if that practice was carried out by her superior. This is not always easy and may have a...
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...system emphasize the need for a nursing profession that focus in alleviating patients suffering by providing quality and evidenced based nursing care. Graduates of master’s degree programs in nursing are prepared with requisite nursing skills, which enable them to engage in nursing practices exhibiting practice, ethical and legal challenges. To function effectively, the AACN provides nine distinct essentials for master’s prepared nurses that guide the preparation of nursing graduates for various diverse specialties in healthcare system. These AACN essentials include background for practice from sciences and humanities which explores the idea of a master’s-prepared nurse integrating various educational disciplines for the incessant improvement of nursing care, organizational and systems leadership which recognizes the need of having leadership skills in providing quality nursing care, and quality improvement and safety which recognizes that a master’s-prepared nurse must be coherent in the quality standards. Others include ability to translate and integrate scholarship into practice that establishes the role of a nurse in applying research outcomes during service delivery, informatics, and healthcare technologies that recognizes the role of nurses in using technology and HIT to promote provision of quality and evidenced based nursing care, and the essentials of health policy and advocacy that explores the role of nurses in employing advocacy strategies to influence health...
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