Professional Code and Guideline for Nurses

This article discusses the importance of code, policy, ethics, and standards for the nursing and midwifery profession. It also highlights the breach of ICN code of ethics, code of conduct for Nurses, social media policy, and Register Nurses standard for practice when handling Mr. Stanley who was the patient at the hospital.

Running head: PROFESSIONAL CODE AND GUIDELINE FOR NURSES 1
Professional Code and Guideline for Nurses
Student Name
Institutional Affiliation

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Introduction
Code, policy, ethics, and standards are essential for the nursing and midwifery profession
since it acts as a guide to safe practice when undertaking their role (Ross, Barr, & Stevens,
2013). Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia NMBA is vital when it comes to regulating
and guiding the nursing profession within the country (Crettenden, et al., 2014) NMBA is an
association that was established by the parliament to safeguard the public community by
ensuring that all nurses and midwives offer care of high quality to the patients. NMBA body has
come up with the standards for practice, conducts and advice for nurses as well as midwives
(Katsikitis, et al., 2013). Moreover, it also investigates any allegation of misconduct from nurses
and deregisters those who are unfit for practice. Through the help of the video, this paper will
discuss how the nurse who was on duty breached ICN code of ethics, code of conduct for
Nurses, social media policy, and Register Nurses standard for practice when handling Mr.
Stanley who was the patient at the hospital. Additionally, this paper will also discuss the correct
nursing practice that the health healthcare providers in each incident could have observed while
attending to the patients
Code of Conduct for Nurses
The code provides a strong foundation for safe practice as well as guidance on vital
issues like harassment cultural safety and bullying. Therefore, midwives and nurses are required
to meet the standards which are set by the code established by the NMBA (González‐de et al.,
2015). The code describes different principles of behavior that helps in guiding safe practice by
outlining the conduct expected from the nurses as well as the entire community (Levati, 2014).
From the video, it is noticed that the health care provider who was handling Mr. Stanley was so
uncaring. The patient is heard saying that he has been uncared for over an extended period.

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During the conversation with the health care provider, Mr. Stanley claims that the nurse has not
been around for two days. The nurse was also heard saying that she took sometimes with an old
patient who was suffering from prostate cancer and was visiting the hospital for the second time.
Therefore, this means that the nurse spends a lot of time with the outside her workstation leaving
Mr. Stanley unattended to for an extended period. Thus, the nurse breached the professional
behavior code that is vital in ensuring that safe practice, as well as outlines that are expected of
the nurses by their colleague and the entire community, is followed. From the video, it can be
concluded that the nurse failed to apply the correct code of conduct established by NMBA. Her
behavior failed to meet the expectation of the client and the code of conduct. The nurse was
supposed to apply person-centered as well as making decisions to ensure that Mr. Stanley
received quality and safe care (McNamara, 2012). The nurse was expected to attend to the
patients instead of talking to the old patient who has prostate cancer and visiting the hospital for
the second time. Additionally, the nurse was supposed to actively address their indifference with
the patient due to lack of care when she away for two days. Furthermore, he was supposed to
treat the patient with respect and ensure that she has maximum involvement with Mr. Stanley for
care and safety purposes.
ICN Code of Ethics
ICN Code of Ethics plays an essential role in guiding nurses in their daily choices and
decision aimed towards ensuring the safety and care of the patient. The ICN Code of Ethics
guide and supports the nurses towards refusal to be part of any activity which is capable of
conflicting with caring and healing of the patient (Pollock, 2012). From the video, it is evidenced
that the nurse went against the ICN Code of Ethics. The nurse is heard saying that she always
share the information of the patient he is taking acre off to her mother. According to the nurse,

PROFESSIONAL CODE AND GUIDELINE FOR NURSES 4
her mother often loves to know about the health status of the patient that her daughter is taking
off within the healthcare setting. By revealing the health status of Mr. Stanley to her parent, the
nurse went against the ICN Code of Ethics that calls for respect for the patient right which
includes right to dignity (Basevi, Reid, & Godbold, 2014). Revealing to Mr. Stanley that she
always share clients information to her mother could interfere with the healing of the patient.
Due to her absenteeism for two days and reveal the patient information to her parents, the nurse
failed to create a conducive and ethical environment of mutual trust and confidence that can play
I vital role in ensuring quick recovery of Mr. Stanley. The correct practice that the nurse
handling Mr. Stanley ought to have observed is non-maleficence which refers to doing no harm
either intentional or unintentional (Zahedi, et al., 2013). The nurse was supposed to maintain
client safety, preservation of his right such as autonomy, dignity, and confidentiality while
providing safe, competent and high-quality nursing care. Additionally, the nurse would have
acted with fairness to the patient when it comes to distribution of healthcare services. From the
Video, Mr. Stanley seems worried and not satisfied with the healthcare services that he is
received in the hospital. Therefore, he tries to convince the nurse who is taking care of him with
money so that the nurse checks on him regularly. Fairness and equal distribution of healthcare
among all the patients is the correct practice that the nurse must adopt. There must be fairness
and equitable distribution of care services to all patients.
Social Media Policy
The use of social media such as Facebook, Twitter Instagram among others is expanding
rapidly. Organizations, as well as individuals, are quickly embracing various user-created
platforms like personal websites, blogs, social network and microblogs for activities such as
advertisement and education activities. Whether online activities are limited to a particular group

PROFESSIONAL CODE AND GUIDELINE FOR NURSES 5
of people or if the public can see it, healthcare providers are required to ensure that they maintain
and uphold professional standards as well as being aware of consequences of their deeds (Barry,
& Hardiker, 2012). Therefore, healthcare providers are expected to be mindful when circulating
patient information on the social media may end up being in the public domain and stay there for
an extended period regardless of the motive irrespective of the purpose during the time of
posting (Kubheka, 2017). Therefore, the nurse breached the social media policy by taking a
picture with Mr. Stanley while on the hospital bed. From the video, the nurse is being heard
saying that her mother is a big fan of social media hence she is going to post the picture on her
Facebook page so that her mother could be in a position to see and like the picture. According to
section 133 of the NMBA on social media policy, the law bar nurses from communicating on
social media through posting of their client picture since it goes against the patient right to
privacy as well as confidentiality (Basevi, et al., 2014). Nurses taking picture with the client is
allowed since it helps make the patient feel loved and appreciated. Therefore this can help fasten
the recovery process for the patient. Thus taking the picture with Mr. Stanley and not posting it
on social media is the best nursing practice that the healthcare provider should have observed.
Additionally, the nurse should have sought the consent of the patient and his family if they will
be okay when the picture of Mr. Stanley is posted on the social media while in the hospital bed.
Finally, should have read the social media policy and understand them before posting Mr.
Stanley picture on the social media.
Register Nurses Standard for Practice
Register Nurses Standard for Practice applies to all nurses within the entire field of their
practice. The standards are supposed to be employed in conjunction with the guidelines, codes,
and ethics for nursing and midwifery practiced. According to Register Nurses Standard for

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Practice, healthcare professionals are expected to engage only an in therapeutic and professional
relationship that aims toward quick recovery of the patient (Gunningberg, et al., 2015). However,
from the video, it is evidenced that the nurse handling Mr. Stanley breached this practiced. The
nurse is heard engaging her favorite patient with stories other sick patients within the hospital.
Additionally, the nurse also informs the client that her mother likes to know what is going on in
the hospital concerning the health of various patients. In the video, the nurse is also heard telling
Mr. Stanley that some male colleague was jealous since she was in love with the patient.
Therefore, this means that the relationship that the nurse was having with the patient went over
the professional boundary to a personal one. All this are against the Standard for Practice
expected from a registered nurse. Additionally, the nurse failed to reports the conducts of her
colleague who she claimed was jealous of her relationship with Mr. Stanley making. Therefore,
this made her colleague be in bad-temper with her hence she was going to have a long day.
According to The standard of Practice for registered nurses, the best nursing practice that she
should apply is reporting the misconduct of her colleague to the top management of the hospital
(Melnyk, Gallagher‐Ford, Long, & Fineout‐Overholt, 2014). Additionally, should have
established and sustained her relationship with the client in a manner that distinguishes
boundaries between professional as well as personal association. She ought not to have had a
love relationship with the patients since it breaches dignity, values, rights and cultural safety and
competency with the hospital settings (Heuss, Froehlich, & Beglinger, 2012).
Conclusion
Nurses play a vital role in care provision as well as promoting an environment in which
human values, rights, spiritual belief customs and family are respected. Nurses face various
Code, policy, ethics, and standards in their professional practice aimed at ensuring that there are

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provisions of adequate and quality healthcare. According to the recent research, there has been a
great need for the nurse to enhance their code, ethics, and standards of practice within the
healthcare settings. With the emergences of technological advances, nurses need to be cognizant
of their ethics, standard and conduct when handling different patients. Therefore, they should
ensure that their behaviors advocate for equity, social justice, and quality healthcare. Acting
professionally among the nurses will enable them to create a positive working environment
thereby maintaining safe equitable and social condition which enhances their relationship with
their colleagues and patients.

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