Healthcare Scope of Practice

Study Notes

Scope of Practice

Definition: The scope of practice refers to the range of activities and responsibilities that a healthcare professional is authorized to perform within their profession.
Determines the services that a healthcare professional is qualified to provide to patients.
Scope of practice varies by profession, jurisdiction, and employer.
Key factors that influence scope of practice:
- Education and training
- Licensure and certification
- Employer policies and procedures
- Professional standards and guidelines

Professional Ethics

Definition: Professional ethics refer to the moral principles and values that guide a healthcare professional's behavior and decision-making.
Key principles of professional ethics:
- Respect for autonomy: respecting patients' rights to make informed decisions about their care.
- Beneficence: acting in the best interests of patients.
- Non-maleficence: avoiding harm to patients.
- Justice: promoting fairness and equity in healthcare.
- Veracity: truthfulness and honesty in interactions with patients.
- Confidentiality: maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality.
Importance of professional ethics:
- Builds trust between healthcare professionals and patients.
- Ensures high-quality, patient-centered care.
- Maintains public trust and confidence in the healthcare system.
- Guides decision-making in complex or uncertain situations.
- Supports professional accountability and responsibility.

Scope of Practice

Scope of practice defines the range of activities and responsibilities a healthcare professional is authorized to perform within their profession.
It determines the services a healthcare professional is qualified to provide to patients.
Scope of practice varies depending on the profession, jurisdiction, and employer.
Education and training influence scope of practice by qualifying healthcare professionals to perform specific tasks.
Licensure and certification also play a role in determining scope of practice by ensuring healthcare professionals meet minimum standards.
Employer policies and procedures can impact scope of practice by outlining specific responsibilities and limitations.
Professional standards and guidelines also influence scope of practice by establishing best practices and expectations.

Professional Ethics

Principles of Professional Ethics

Respect for autonomy involves respecting patients' rights to make informed decisions about their care.
Beneficence means acting in the best interests of patients.
Non-maleficence involves avoiding harm to patients.
Justice promotes fairness and equity in healthcare.
Veracity involves truthfulness and honesty in interactions with patients.
Confidentiality involves maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality.

Importance of Professional Ethics

Professional ethics build trust between healthcare professionals and patients.
They ensure high-quality, patient-centered care by guiding healthcare professionals to prioritize patient needs.
Professional ethics maintain public trust and confidence in the healthcare system by promoting transparency and accountability.
They guide decision-making in complex or uncertain situations by providing a moral framework.
Professional ethics support professional accountability and responsibility by encouraging healthcare professionals to take ownership of their actions.

Description

Learn about the scope of practice in healthcare, including the factors that influence it and how it varies by profession, jurisdiction, and employer. Test your knowledge of the range of activities and responsibilities of healthcare professionals.