Theme 6

Code of Ethics and Conduct

Code of Ethics and Conduct

Objectives Identify the Code of Ethics and Conduct Discuss the importance of the code of ethics and conduct in the nursing profession Apply the code of ethics and conduct in the workplace

Reading and Reference

Berglund.C.A,Ethics for Health Care,[2000]Oxford UniversityPress:Oxford Fry.S.T.,& Johnstone.M.J[2006].Ethics in Nursing Practice[2nd Ed].Melbourne International Council of Nurses. Code of Ethics.[2006]. Geneva Code of Ethics & Code of Conduct for Fiji Nurses-Nurses & Midwives Board [1999]

Code of Ethics
Set of rules or expectations devised for a selected purpose. A document that sets out of moral rules and expectations devised for the purpose of guiding ethical and professional conduct.

Code of Conduct
Set of rules within a group which members should live by Acceptable behavior of how things are done Help to meet internal and external expectations

Code of Ethics and Conduct

Why you need Code of Ethics ? Create a culture where people will do the right thing Introduction that explains the purpose of the code and what you hope to achieve

Ethics
Starts with you [professional nurse]

Your profession Relationship with clients

Shaped By Ethics

Professional Nurse
Dress code Appearance Behaviour Communication skills Respect Honesty Reliable Gain trust Right attitude

Profession
A professional appearance not only make you feel better about yourself, but it causes those around her including patients to feel more comfortable of your ability to perform.

Code of ethics and conduct

Profession or your work All registered nurses require a certain level of skills, knowledge to carry out their duty

Inter relationship with client

Interest Honesty Dedicated Hardworking Empathy Respect Responsible Right Attitude

Nursing Care
Duty of Care Core business Identity Moral obligation

Ethics-applied
Being able to act Responsibly Appropriately Effectively in various situations Being able to provide a Clear,coherent,reasoned justifications for ones decision and actions.

Attitude makes the difference

It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else will affect its successful outcome [ Williams and James]

Ethics
Right attitude makes life -100% [We are in charge of own attitude]
[Respond/React]

Client
A customer is the most important visitor on our premesis He is NOT dependent on us We are dependent on him He is not an interruption on our work

Client
He is the purpose of it He is not an outsider on our business He is part of it We are not doing a favour by serving him

He is doing a favour by giving us an opportunity to do so

Ethics
Not only about setting acceptable standards BUT Reflecting on optimal standards and pursuing those standards

Nursing Profession
The whole organization need to be uniform in maintaining the professional outlook, regulations and climate to signify the profession it belongs to and that is NURSING

Code of Ethics
International Council of Nurses[2006] Code of Ethics for Nurses. Geneva

Nurses & Midwives Board, Fiji.[1999] Code of Ethics & Code of Conduct for Fiji Nurse

ICN Code of Ethics and conduct

The nurse holds
In confidence personal information and uses judgment in sharing this information with others. This defines the ethical dimensions of nursing responsibilities to the people that nurses serve.

Challenges and problems

faced by todays nurses are serious and extremely demanding not just clinical skills but of the nurses ability to make fair decision.

Code of ethics
Nurses are increasingly expected to demonstrate competence in applied ethics Eg sound decision making and setting policies for practices.

ICN Code of Ethics

Fundamental responsibilities To promote Health To prevent Illness To restore Health To alleviate suffering

Other responsibilities
Respect values to protect privacy to Work cooperatively with other coworkers & protect patients health from unsafe practices

Cont-responsibilities
Nurse to take responsibility to initiate and support actions designed to meet health needs of the public Maintain competence in practice and uphold high standard of nursing care

ICN Code of Ethics

Has four principal elements that outline the standard of ethical conduct: Nurses and People Nurses and Practice Nurses and Profession Nurses and Co workers

Code of Ethics and Conduct

Nurses & Midwives Board FIJI Code of Ethics & Code of Conduct for FIJI Nurses 1999

Code of Ethics [adapted from ICN]

Fundamental Responsibilities To preserve life To alleviate suffering To promote Health To prevent illness To aid the dying to a peaceful death

Fiji Code of Ethics

Relating to Client Nursing Practice Nursing Profession Co workers Society and Environment

General Purpose of Code of Ethics

To highlight the fundamental moral commitment of the nursing profession To inform the community the values which nurses hold To provide guidelines for nurses in the ethical consideration of nursing practice. To provide nurses the basis for self and professional reflection on their practice.

Code of Conduct
Each registered nurse shall act, at all times in such a manner as to: Safeguard and promote the interests of individual patients and clients. Serve the interests of society Enhance public trust and confidence. Uphold professional good standing and reputation of the profession.

Code of Conduct
As a registered nurse, you are personally accountable for your practice and in the exercise of your professional accountability must: 1.Act always in such a manner as to promote and safeguard the interests and well being of patients and clients.

Code of Conduct
2.Ensure that no action or omission on your part, or within your sphere of responsibility is detrimental to the interests, condition or safety of patients and clients. 3.Acknowledge any limitation in your knowledge and competence and decline any duties or responsibilities unless able to perform them in a safe and skilled manner.

Code of Conduct
4.Work in an open and cooperative manner with and families patients, clients and families and encourage and respect their involvement in their planning and delivery of care. 5.Work in collaboration with other health care professionals in the provision of care and recognize and respect their particular contributions.

Code of Conduct
6.Avoid any abuse of your privileged relationship with patients and clients. 7.Report to the appropriate authority where it appears that the health or safety of colleagues is at risk, as such circumstances and practice. may compromise standards of care.

Code of Conduct
8.Refuse any gift, favour or hospitality from patients or clients currently in your care which might be preferential consideration. 9.Ensure that your professional status is not used in the promotion of commercial products or services, declare any financial or other interests in relevant organizations providing such goods or services and ansure that your professional judgment is not influenced by any commercial considerations.

Code of ethics and conduct

Code of Ethics Code of Conduct Policies from the Midwifery Board Ministry of Health Public Service Commission

Provide working frame for nursing practice in Fiji

Why so important?
Guide the practice of their members in the care and treatment of patients Become a part of regulatory armory by which the authorities benchmark conduct Part of a set criteria for assessing professional standards of practice The breach of which will result in disciplinary proceedings.

Legal and Ethical Practice

Ensure the protection of individual client and the community as well as accountability for the public Act in accordance with the Nurses, Midwives and Nurse Practitioners Act, Code of ethics and Conduct/PSC regulations

Objectives
Identify the code of ethics and conduct Discuss the importance of code of ethics and conduct in the nursing profession Apply the code of ethics and conduct in the workplace

Theme 6
Thank you

Group work Code of Ethics

Group A ICN Group E India

Group B

Australia

Group F

Papua New Guinea

Group C

New Zealand

Group G

Hong Kong

Group D

Kingdom of Tonga

Group H

Samoa