Code of Conduct for Nursing Professionals PDF

# Code of Conduct for Nursing Professionals The purpose of the Code of Conduct is to guide nurses in their day-to-day practice and help them to understand their professional responsibilities in caring for patients in a safe, ethical, and effective way. ## Principles ### 1. Respect for the Dignity...

# Code of Conduct for Nursing Professionals The purpose of the Code of Conduct is to guide nurses in their day-to-day practice and help them to understand their professional responsibilities in caring for patients in a safe, ethical, and effective way. ## Principles ### 1. Respect for the Dignity of the Person - Nurses respect each person as a unique individual. - Nurses respect and defend the dignity of every stage of human life. - Nurses respect and maintain their own dignity and that of patients in their professional practice. They believe that this respect is mutual with patients. - Nurses respect all people equally without discriminating on the grounds of age, gender, race, religion, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, disability (physical, mental or intellectual) ### 2. Professional Responsibility and Accountability - Nurses are expected to show high standards of professional behaviour. - Nurses are professionally responsible and accountable for their practice, attitudes and actions; including inactions and omissions. - Nurses recognize the relationship between professional responsibility and accountability, and their professional integrity. - Nurses advocate for patients' rights. - Nurses recognize their role in the appropriate management of health care resources. ### 3. Quality of Practice - Nurses who are competent, safety-conscious, and who act with kindness and compassion, provide safe, high-quality care. - Nurses make sure that the health care environment is safe for themselves, their patients and their colleagues. - Nurses aim to give the highest quality of care to all people in their professional care. - Nurses use evidence-based knowledge and apply best practice standards in their work. ### 4. Trust and Confidentiality - Trust is a core professional value in nurses' and midwives' relationships with patients and colleagues. - Confidentiality and honesty form the basis of a trusting relationship between the nurse or midwife and the patient. Patients have a right to expect that their personal information remains private. - Nurses and midwives exercise professional judgment and responsibility in circumstances where a patient's confidential information must be shared. ### 5. Collaboration with Others - Professional relationships with colleagues are based on mutual respect and trust. - Nurses and midwives share responsibility with colleagues for providing safe, quality health care. They work together to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients. - Nurses and midwives recognize that effective and consistent documentation is an integral part of their practice and a reflection of the standard of an individual's professional practice. They support the ethical management of the documentation and communication of care. - Nurses and midwives recognize their role in delegating care appropriately and in providing supervision. ## Expected Conduct/Etiquettes while on Duty: 1. All the nurses are expected to perform their tasks as per the duties assigned by the SNO/nurse in charge. 2. A nurse is expected to be punctual in attendance and duty timings. In case she/he is late for any genuine reason, then the same should be informed to the SNO/ANS telephonically at the earliest and later in writing as well. 3. Nurses are liable to be transferred from one patient care area to another and they must accept the decision. In case of any genuine reasons for inability to accept the transfer, the same would have to be stated in writing 4. In case a nurse wants a transfer, the same request should be in writing. 5. Nurses should not accept and/or demand any gifts in cash or kind from patients or their relatives or Pharmaceutical/ any other firms. 6. All patient information and other hospital information are to be considered confidential and should not be communicated in any form to any unauthorized staff/person. 7. All nurses shall register with the State Nursing Council for practice in the institution. 8. As employees of the hospital, nurses are strictly prohibited from giving any medicine to any person except to those it is ordered to be given by the treating doctor to the patients. 9. Prior intimation about daily duties of the Nursing staff will be appropriately notified, in the duty schedule. Any changes in the duty would require prior written request and approval of the SNO/ANS. 10. The nursing staff should ensure that effective patient care is being provided in the hospital. 11. On duty, nurses should be in station and be always attentive. 12. Sleeping during duty hours is prohibited.