nursing practice

Nursing Practice
Name
Institution
Nursing Practice
American Nurses Association scope and standards of practice provide a description of the “who,” “what,” “when,” “where,” “why,” and “how” of the nursing practice. “Who” comprises of the APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurses) and RN (Registered Nurses) with the education and title allowing them to maintain active licensure of nursing practice. “What” addresses the promotion, protection, and optimization of abilities and health to promote the prevention of injuries and illnesses, facilitate healing, and alleviate sufferings through the human responses’ diagnoses and treatments. “Where” considers the care needs of the patients. “When” addresses the need for nursing expertise, compassion, and knowledge. “Why” explains the goal of existence of the nursing profession as that which seeks to achieve the positive patient outcome (Ellis, 2016).
Conversely, ANA nursing social policy statement refers to nursing as a “helping profession” where nurses are mandated with the responsibility of helping others (patients) in compliance with the societal obligations and social contract of nursing (Bosek & Savage, 2013). On the contrary, the Code of Ethics for Nurses states that the nurses must be guided by the provisions of conducting their nursing practices with respect, commitment, and compassion for the inherent worth and dignity that promote safety and health as well as protect the rights of all persons (Ellis, 2017). Both the ANA nursing social policy statement and nurses code of ethics advocates for the nurses to be accountable for their duties and make decision tailored towards providing ethical care, while, ANA scope and standards of practice is focused on ensuring that nurses improve their competency in serving the patients’ best interests.

Considering that I am a Registered Nurse III working in the Post-anesthesia Care Unit as a Charge Nurse, the foundational nursing texts outlined in ANA scope and standards of practice, ANA nursing social policy statement, and nurses code of ethics support my nursing practice. The foundational nursing texts provide the professional guidelines that outline how, me as a nurse, should behave ethically and make appropriate decisions (Howatson-Jones, 2016). For example, they provide the social justice principles that help me to maintain integrity and reduce moral distress regarding the provision of care to patients when faced with barriers that might prevent me from fulfilling my duties in regards to protecting the safety, privacy, and right of the patients.
References
Bosek, M. S. D., & Savage, T. A. (Eds). (2013). The ethical component of nursing education: Integrating ethics into clinical experience. Pennsylvania: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Ellis, P. (2016). Evidence-based practice in nursing. England, Exeter: Learning Matters.
Ellis, P. (2017). Understanding ethics for nursing students. England, Exeter: Learning Matters.
Howatson-Jones, L. (2016). Reflective practice in nursing. England, Exeter: Learning Matters.