Professionalism and Ethics in Nursing Practice: A Case Study Analysis

Running head: NURSING
Nursing
Name of the student:
Name of the University:
Author’s note

1NURSING
Patients trust with health organization and satisfaction with care is achieved by
engaging in actions that promote professionalism. This involves paying greater attention to
role and responsibilities that shapes practice and is centred around strong collaboration and
inter professional relationship (Brennan & Monson, 2014, May). Adherence to values and
characteristics of professionalism also helps to adhere to ethical, legal and professional
guidelines in nursing practice. The main purpose of this essay is to demonstrate understand of
professionalism and ethics in nursing practice by case study analysis of Dan and identifying
all transgressions in the case study that lead to violation of Australian Registered Nurse
Standards of Practice, Code of Conduct for nurse and Code of Ethics for Nurses. The essay
will justification for the violation and discuss about possible legal and ethical implications of
Dan’s behaviour on professional practice. The essay will also recommend the actions that the
nurse should have done to avoid ethical misconduct.
The case study is about Dan, a registered nursing student on day 5 of first year
placement at MyLocal hospital. During medication round in the morning, Dan noticed her
preceptor, RN Jane was putting some Paracetamol in her pocket. Jane justified that she
needed the medication because she returned home at 0330 after a big night out and she was
suffering from hangover. The first transgression that has been identified in this scenario is
related to misappropriation of medication because she used the paracetamol for her own use
without notifying anyone. Her act of taking paracetamol tablets from store room is an
indication of professional misconduct she was engaged in stealing the medications that were
preserved for patient’s use. It violates the NMBA Registered Nursing Standard for Practice in
Australia. According to the standard 2 of the professional standard, it is necessary for nurse
to engage in therapeutic and professional relationship in practice (Nursing and Midwifery
Board of Australia (NMBA), 2016). However, the RN Jane displayed unprofessional
behaviour by not showing professionalism during use of medications during nursing practice.

2NURSING
Berge et al. (2012) gives the evidence that many common opioids and non opioid
psychotropic drugs are diverted from health care practice. This can have an impact not only
on drug diverters but also on patients and reputation of the hospitals.
Jane’s act of stealing medication also violates the value statement 8 of the Code of
Ethics for Nurses in Austria. The value statement 8 states that nurses should respect
ecologically sustainable environment to promote health and well being. This means nurses
have individual responsibility to use resources efficiently and comply with sustainable use of
resource (NMBA, 2012). However, Jane violated this code of ethics by not using the medical
resource of the hospital ethically and secretly keeping Paracetamols in her pocket. In
addition, the behaviour of Jane also violates the code of conduct for nurses in Australia. This
is said because the principle 1.2 of the Code of Conduct mentions about the need for nurses to
practice ethically and avoiding engaging in any unlawful behaviour that damages the
reputation of the nursing staff (NMBA, 2018, March). However, Jane did not engaged in
honest and ethical nursing practice as she took the medications by hiding it from others.
There are many legal implications for RNs like who engage in medicine theft. They
are likely to be engaged in disciplinary proceedings and suspension from practice for a
particular period because of violation of standards of practice. The legal proceedings report
by (2018) gives example of one such case where a nurse was disqualified from registration
for six months because of professional misconduct due to misappropriate drug. Hence, as
Jane was also engaged in similar act, she can also be charged for professional misconduct and
suspension if proved guilty in the future. She is also likely to booked for misconduct because
of display of unethical behaviour and violation of code of ethics by engaging in theft of
medication.