Nursing Ethics and Accountability

For example , the nurse has the responsibility to preserve life however , the client signed a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR form . The nurse 's right to make decision (autonomy ) is affected by the client 's personal decision

D . Nurse 's Obligation to Report

According to the nurses ' code of ethics , the nurse promotes , advocates and strives to protect the health , safety and rights of the patient Nurses have a commitment to be alert and take suitable action about unethical practice by any health care member . The reporting should undergo official channels and

be reported to appropriate authorities or committees . In this case , the nurse must be aware that Dr . G violated the patient 's confidentiality and privacy . There was an inappropriate disclosure of information . According to the Privacy Rule of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA , the basic principle is that : A covered entity may not use or disclose protected health information except either (1 ) as the Privacy Rule permits or requires or (2 ) as the individual who is the subject of the

information (or the individual 's personal representative ) authorizes in writing

Mr . H was not the personal representative of the patient , Mr . E . He also has no authorized written permission to access the patient 's health information . Even after knowing the situation of the patient , Mr . H has no legal rights to make medical decisions for the patient

E . Nurse 's Accountability

According to the nurses ' code of ethics , nurses are accountable for their actions and judgments . Accountability means being answerable to oneself and others for one 's own actions that are based on the designated code of ethics of the profession . In this case , the nurse must be accountable for explaining carefully to the patient the risks of his medical decision . The nurse should also...