What professional, ethical and legal considerations should be considered when conducting a health assessment?

Health assessment must be conducted by someone who has demonstrated a satisfactory level of
Competency, for example a qualified nurse. Professions are defined by a code of Ethics. The Code of
Ethics For Nurses in Australia, identify the fundamental moral commitments of the profession; Provide nurses with a basis for professional and self-reflection on ethical conduct; Act as a guide to ethical practice; and Indicate to the community the moral values which nurses can be expected to hold.
(Australian Nurses and Midwives Accreditation Council).

Nurses should consider the patient’s needs, values, culture and vulnerability. Information gained from the patient is supposed to be kept confidential. Disclosure of private information is a breach of patient confidentiality. Patient information should be shared within a health care team on a ‘need to know’ basis. Respect for patient confidentiality serves to foster a patient’s trust in health care professionals.
Health professionals must practice in ways that are proficient. Nurses need to validate their performances by legal and legible documentation. All health professionals are required to internalise the standards of the profession in their day to day work (Kerridge et al, 2003)

As legal requirement nurses need to take into consideration the four principles of Bioethics,
Beneficence, Non-maleficence, Respect for patient autonomy, and Justice. There are no defences which wholly or partially excuse Nurse’s negligent behaviour. “Health professionals need to keep in mind that the best approach to minimising the risk of being sued is to focus on providing the best care that is possible in the patient’s circumstances”. (Kerridge et al, 2009)