Breaches of Nursing Codes of Practice

This assignment examines the breaches of nursing codes of practice in a scenario where a nurse engages in unprofessional behavior. The paper explores the various codes that were breached, including dignity of the patient, patient interests primacy, facilitation of patient safety, competency, safety, and ethical care, well-being and health, and standards of nursing practice. It also discusses strategies for preventing such breaches in the future.

Running head: NURSING PRACTICES
NURSING PRACTICES
Name of Student
Institution Affiliation
NURSING PRACTICES

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Introduction
Nursing codes of practice
Codes of practice in nursing involves standards of behavior expected from nurses as they
practice their nursing profession. They include: professional codes of conduct, nursing ethics and
standards of nursing practice.
Literature review
Professional codes of conduct
These are rules which govern nurses in making right decisions involving patient and care
circumstances (Pender, Murdaugh & Parsons, 2014). They include the following in relation to
the above scenario.
The dignity of the patient. This code or provision requires a nurse to uphold the dignity of
the patient during the time of interaction with the patient and treatment of the patient. The patient
must be treated with lots of care and compassion. Yelling and pulling of the elbow by Nurse
Kerry directly relate to this provision
Patient interests primacy. This code stipulates that the patient is the key and crucial
consideration of a nurse. The nurse is therefore required to perform his or her duties with a
consideration and satisfaction of the patient’s interests in all circumstances. Whenever a conflict
of interest arises, the nurse should immediately involve and explain the conflict to the patient in
an amicable manner possible (Davis &Kimble, 2011). The forceful way and nature of Nurse
Kerry communication to the patient to speak English directly relate to this provision.

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Facilitation of the patient's safety. This code requires nurses to ensure safety and privacy of the
patient are guaranteed and is prioritized. Pulling off the patient elbow by Nurse Kerry touches on
this provision.
Nursing codes of ethics
Ethical codes provide guidance and direction in relation to ethical matters and behavior
of nurses as they implement their duties and roles. Nursing ethics also acts as a way of self-
evaluation and reflection of nurses as they implement nursing practices. The following are some
of the ethical issues observed in the above scenario:
Competency, safety and ethical care. Nurses should struggle and strive to achieve the
highest quality of care desired by the patient as they engage in expressing their morals. In
addition, nurses must maintain good working health conditions and relations with all parties
within the field of duty, for example, fellow nurses, superiors and patients. This ethic again
requires nurses to admit and accept mistakes and take actions to minimize harm resulting from
such mistakes. They should also strive and avoid collaboration with fellow nurses within the
field to achieve personal and private interest or ego.
Eventually, all nurses should prioritize on the creation of a good working environment
which encourages the ethical practice. In the mentioned scenario, Nurse Kerry created unhealthy
and unethical working environment. This is witnessed where his fellow nurse fears correcting
him to avoid bullying. In addition, he collaborates with fellow nurses to satisfy his ego and
interest which directly relates to this ethical obligation.
Well-being and health. Nurses should facilitate patients attain the maximum limits of
health during illness stage. Nurses must show care while addressing or communicating with a
patient. Besides this, they should express comfort and emotional encouragement to the patient as

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they implement their duties. Nevertheless, nurses should respect and accommodate opinions of
patients and collaborate or seek consultation in situations where necessary. In consideration of
the mentioned case, Nurse Kerry directly violated this ethical requirement by forcefully
demanding a patient to speak English.
Standards of nursing practice
Leadership. This standard requires nurses to communicate leadership skills during the
practice of duties (Polit & Beck, 2011). This standard is witnessed from the extract through its
violations by actions of the charge nurse and the director.
Communication. A nurse is required to effectively communicate in all scope of the work
environment and share her experience. This is witnessed through poor communication
capabilities of the charge nurse in fear of bullying from Nurse Kerry and the director.
Quality of practice. Nurses are expected to depict good nursing quality practice. This is
witnessed and violated through the collaboration of the director and Nurse Kerry in encouraging
misconduct.
The action taken by the Charge nurse violates the leadership standard of nursing practice.
The nurse is expected to directly and immediately correct Nurse Kerry mistake with an aim of
facilitating the safety and security of the patient. The nurse further encouraged the continuous
intimidation from Nurse Kerry without any appropriate action (Chenits & Swansons, 2013). The
charge nurse simultaneously engaged within communication standards. This is witnessed by the
action of the nurse communicating the problem witnessed to the director who assumed the issue
due to the existing friendship with the accused.
Conclusion

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The following strategies should be adopted to prevent breaching of nursing codes of
practice:
Future occurrence of the breaching of codes could be prevented through the following:
 Determining important care aspects for timely observation of nurses behavior
 Data collection aiming at the effectiveness of nurses in their practice
 Continuous development, education and implementing of practice policies and
procedures
 Enacting recommendations and punishment geared towards bettering practice of nursing.
 Awareness promotion of patients’ rights.

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References
Chenitz, W. C., & Swanson, J. M. (2013). From practice to grounded theory: Qualitative
research in nursing. Prentice Hall.
Davis, A. H., & Kimble, L. P. (2011). The essentials of baccalaureate education for professional
nursing practice. Journal of Nursing Education, 50(11), 605.
Pender, N. J., Murdaugh, C. L., & Parsons, M. A. (2014). Health promotion in nursing practice.
Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2011). Nursing research: Generating and assessing evidence for
nursing practice. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.