...obligation to accomplish work”, responsibility also includes each person's obligation to perform at an acceptable level, the level that the person has been educated (Kelly-Heidenthal, 2003, p. 268). Accountability is defined as, "being responsible and liable for actions or failure of actions of oneself or others in the context of delegation" (NCSBN, 2009). This is in reference to the nurse's legal liability for the actions taken and patient outcomes. Accountability and responsibility are different, as responsibility belongs to the person doing the task and accountability belongs to the person who assigned the task. The nurse is both accountable for the task being completed and is also responsible for the patients in their care. (RCN, 2010) Accountability and responsibility are two essential parts of delegation. DeWits and O’Neill (2014) define delegation as "transferring the authority to perform a selected nursing task in a selected situation to a competent individual ". When delegating, the registered nurse (RN) allocates nursing tasks to health care assistants (HCAs) while still remaining accountable for the patient and the task that was assigned. Delegating is a management technique that is used to provide more efficient care to patients. (NCSBN, 2009) Permitting HCAs to take on nursing responsibilities allows the nurse to complete other tasks that need to be completed; however, delegation is done at the nurses' discretion and is a personal choice. Nurses need to make careful decisions...
Words: 1804 - Pages: 8
...The legal aspects of nursing will directly affect how the patients are cared for by the nurse’s. As a licensed nurse, it is very important that you know the legal concepts of your chosen profession. Since the nursing profession was the one decided on then you are held accountable for your actions. Accountability is extremely important in the nursing practice as well as the law. (Berman, 2012) Currently there are two reasons that knowledge of laws is important in the nursing practice. The reasons are to ensure nurses decisions and actions are current with legal principles and protect the nurse from liability. (Snyder, 2012) There are several classification types of the law. One of the primary types of law is public law. Public law deals...
Words: 872 - Pages: 4
...Nursing Accountability of Implementing Changes Nursing accountability is often associated with specific expectations which include clinical care. It defines the nurse’s responsibility to practice ethically and competently. Nurses use evidence-based research as those presented by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). This is an agency that supports health services research that will improve the quality of healthcare and promote evidence-based decision making (AHRQ, May 2009). It is zascsanecessary for nurses to stay up to date on clinical practices so that they can provide the best care possible to their patients. “The nurse assumes responsibility and accountability for individual nursing judgments and actions.”(ANA, 2001, p. 1) This paper will discuss evidence-based patient safety practices, focusing on the safety practice of: Prevention of Intravascular Catheter-Associated Infection by use of maximum sterile barrier precautions. There are pros and cons to the short-term use of central venous catheters (CVC) in the hospital. The benefit of having an intravascular catheter is that it allows you to give large volumes and high concentrations of fluids to patients. It also prevents a patient on long-term antibiotics from having multiple IV starts. However, there are also serious complications with the most common being infection.(Shonjania et al., 2001) According to AHRQ, the use of maximum sterile barrier precautions decreases the risk of catheter related...
Words: 420 - Pages: 2
...Introduction This paper explain the Accountability of a nursing professional based on an evidence report from Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Assessment(AHRQ) , the report is " Closing the Quality Gap: A Critical Analysis of Quality Improvement Strategies (Vol. 6: Prevention of Healthcare–Associated Infections)" under the head Quality Improvement and Patient Safety What is Accountability? In Fundamentals of Nursing it says “The ability and willingness to assume responsibility for ones’ actions and accepting the consequences of one's behavior.” Accountability of nursing professional is a legal obligation; for a professional nurse it is relating to ethics and moral responsibility. Within the kingdom of professional accountability, there are many factors. The American Nursing Association (ANA) states in its code that the nurse will assume accountability for nursing judgment and actions. A professional nurse has the responsibility to take decisions and practice within the scope of care, calling upon his/her information and skills to make judgments in favor of the patient. A professional nurse is accountable to their profession, their patients, employer, and other health care team members and to themselves. Nurses are accountable to provide safest care for their patient based on evidence based practice and safe nursing interventions. Nursing profession as a whole is build up on accountability, unselfishness, integrity and social justice. A professional...
Words: 915 - Pages: 4
...Accountability of Nursing Professionals Grand Canyon University: NRS ¬- 430V 07/08/2011 Accountability of Nursing Professionals Professional accountability means “ being answerable to someone for something done ” (ANA, 2002) Professional nurse is accountable to the profession, patient population, inter- disciplinary team, community, to the employer, and to self. The individual nurse retains accountability and responsibility for excellent care and conformity with evidence based practice. That includes bedside nursing, teaching, delegation, research and administration (ANA, code of ethics 2001). Advance in technology and evidence based practice brings perfection in nursing skills in order to provide competent and safe care to the patients. The level of responsibility and accountability varies as the professional role changes. The charge nurse has more responsibility than the registered nurse. Therefore their levels of professional judgment and practices are not same, but they assume same professional accountability. According to the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Patient Safety Network web site expands upon the definition of prevention of harm: “ freedom from accidental or preventable injuries produced by medical care” (Mitchell, 2008). In 2001 (AHRQ) has given evidence based repot in different ways to improve patient...
Words: 983 - Pages: 4
...Running head: Accountability of Nursing Professionals Accountability of Nursing Professionals for Patient Safety Practices Related to Informed Consent Lavonia Deanne Bishop Grand Canyon University NURS-430V Professional Dynamics 23-Aug-2010 (0106) September 19, 2010 Accountability of Nursing Professionals for Patient Safety Practices Related to Informed Consent Accountability in nursing can be defined as the state in which the nurse is responsible for upholding a professional agreement with the patient to provide services and be held answerable for the outcomes of behaviors related to these services (Hood, 2010). One of the main areas we are held accountable for as professional nurses is the safety of our patients. After an evidence-based review of patient safety practices, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has identified numerous opportunities for quality improvement. The practices identified were rated by strength of evidence, with the highest rated being listed first. This paper will examine practice number five, asking patients to recall and restate what they have been told during the informed consent and the responsibility of the professional nurse in this process. The Informed Consent Process According to Terry (2007) informed medical consent occurs when a patient autonomously and expressly permits a professional to perform a medical act on that patient or include the patient in a research project. Patients are now encouraged to be more informed...
Words: 1294 - Pages: 6
...Accountability of Nursing Professional GCU Accountability of Nursing Professional NRS-430 April 07, 2011 Accountability of Nursing Professional Every health care member is accountable to their Profession ,Public ,Self,Clients,and health care agency.Accountability means they are able to explain the reasons behind their actions. Accountability facilitates self assessment and assume ownership of job role. Porter-O’Grady & Malloch(2007) replaced respnsibility with accountability. The word ‘ Responsible ‘ means,it ,make the workers feel like they need to complete a job within certain time.Accountability make the workers programe their job and take ownership of it. They can eventually feel proud about their performance.American nurses association stated that the nurse will be accountable for their actions and their judgment.(ANA2001P1).Accountability is a legal obligation.It applies to every one involved in the health care.According to the health portability and accountability act, the nurse should not ignore the patients wishes.Nursing shortage will impact the future of health care.This make the health care institution uses the non-licensed individuals to be patient care givers.This inturn will place more ethical and legal responsibility on RNs .RN position will be as a leader or supervisor in the health care industry. Nurses are accountable to the clients. Nurses allow clients to participate in nursing care activities and planning.Nurses...
Words: 1210 - Pages: 5
...Define accountability versus responsibility. Provide some general examples. In simple terms, accountability refers to being answerable to a higher authority and responsibility is having to do with a sense of duty. In nursing, responsibility is defined as the "reliability, dependability, and the obligation to accomplish work. Responsibility also includes each person's obligation to perform at an acceptable level, the level that the person has been educated." (Kelly-Heidenthal, 2003, p. 268) Accountability is the ability and willingness to assume responsibility for ones’ actions and accepting the consequences of one's behavior.” (Kozier, Erb, Blais, Wilkinson; AddisonWesley) Accountability is a legal obligation. In health care it is also an ethical and moral responsibility. Within the realm of professional accountability, there are many factors. Professional accountability applies to everyone involved in health care. You may transfer responsibility to another person but will continue to remain accountable for those tasks. This is called delegating. ANA defines nursing delegation as transferring the responsibility of performing a nursing activity to another person while retaining accountability for the outcome (ANA/NCSBN, 2006); A professional nurse has the responsibility to practice within his/her scope of care, calling upon his/her knowledge and skills to make decisions in the best interest of the patient. Assuming responsibility for one’s own nursing practice...
Words: 392 - Pages: 2
...Legal aspect of Nursing Nursing practice is ruled by many legal concepts. It is important for nurses to know the legal aspect of Nursing; because nurses are accountable for their professional judgments and actions. Accountability is a crucial concept of professional nursing practice and the Knowledge of laws that legalize and affect nursing practice is needed for two reasons: first to ensure that nurses’ decisions and actionsLegal aspect of Nursing Nursing practice is ruled by many legal concepts. It is important for nurses to know the legal aspect of Nursing; because nurses are accountable for their professional judgments and actions. Accountability is a crucial concept of professional nursing practice and the Knowledge of laws that legalize and affect nursing practice is needed for two reasons: first to ensure that nurses’ decisions and actions are consistent with legal principles and second to protect nurses from legal responsibility. What are the functions of law in nursing? The law serves a number of functions in nursing: it helps structure nursing actions in the care of clients are legal. It helps establish the boundaries of independent nursing action. It assists in maintaining a standard of nursing practice by making nurses accountable under the law. There are three sources of laws that affecting nurses: Federal Regulation, Criminal and Civil law and State law. Federal Regulations have a great impact on nursing practice for example The Health insurance portability and...
Words: 580 - Pages: 3
...Essay on Code of Ethics In nursing there is so much emphasis placed on ethics. The reason being is that ethics is a vital part deeply rooted within the field. This paper will look at certain ethical codes in nursing. For example, beginning with a historical overview of the evolution of nursing ethics, and followed by a discussion of the moral principles important to nursing. Next, the paper will look at the outcomes of critical thinking on nursing ethics, and the importance of moral improvement in nurses will be discussed. The following paragraph will discuss the historical introduction of ethics in nursing. The Nursing Code of Ethics began in 1893 with the "Nightingale Pledge" which was patterned after the Hippocratic Oath in medicine, and is understood as the first code of nursing ethics (ANA, 2005). Even though the “Nightingale Pledge is hardly used or enforced by many institution today, much of the same messages or meanings is still practiced today. For, instance in the pledge itself states that “I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug” (Edelstein 1943). I have come to find that this statement means that the nurse giving care should always take precaution when giving medication. A Nurse should deliver optimal care to all patients. Mistakes are made when nurses leave out what is very important. Later on the Nurses' Associated Alumnae of the United States of America and Canada...
Words: 1491 - Pages: 6
...Nursing Philosophy Fredy M. Calderon-Ventura Lehman College Abstract Philosophy of nursing states our thoughts on what we believe to be true about the nature of the profession of nursing and provide a basis for nursing activities. It endorses ethical values we hold as basic and bases our beliefs in theory. Nursing philosophy is based on both professional organization and individual definitions. Many factors both intrinsically and extrinsically influence one’s personal perceptions of the great profession called nursing. Every nurse is accountable for maintaining her own knowledge and education after completion of a nursing program. With a focus on personal professional growth that intellectually stimulates and promotes individual autonomy with her given specialty of practice, a nurse can greatly improve her self-confidence and professional motivation, thus providing a firm foundation on which to base her nursing judgment. Nursing Philosophy One strategy nurses can use to affirm that their practice is in harmony with their value system is to write a personal philosophy statement. This might be general in nature, such as a philosophy that relates to life values; it could be a philosophy statement related to beliefs about the profession of nursing; or it might be a philosophy specific to school nursing. In each case, this activity will encourage nurses to clarify their values and then examine how their philosophy fits with their professional practice. Articulating a philosophy...
Words: 1447 - Pages: 6
...Professional Accountability, Standards of Practice, Professional Development. Introduction Standards of practice and professional accountability are inextricably woven together. Standards describe the "what and how" of delivering nursing care. Professional accountability is creating the standards, meeting those standards, holding peers to the standards, and revising the standards when needed. As your e-text describes "Standards of practice are the "what" and describe a competent level of nursing care. Standards ofprofessional performance are the "how" of nursing (Cresaia & Friberg, 2010). The ANA's Scope and Standards of Clinical Nursing Practice (2004) describe both the "what" and "how" of professional nursing. This document outlines nine specific standards that describe the level of competence required in the role of the professional nurse (American Nurses Association, 2004). The model in your e-text that depicts professionalism provides a graphic display of all the essential elements which nurses need to include in their practice to support professional development. The ANA's Code of Ethics for Nurses (2001) makes it clear that nurses are accountable for their judgments and actions independent of hospitals, physicians, or other health care organizations. Nurses are accountable for themselves to the patient, the public, other health care team members, and members of the nursing profession. Standards of practice are developed and found in professional specialty nursing organizations...
Words: 602 - Pages: 3
...Aroh, Occhiuzzo, and Douglas (2011) discuss the “Blueprint for Nursing Leadership” developed by nurse leaders at Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) in New Jersey. HUMC received Magnet designation in 1995, they were the second hospital in the country, and the first in New Jersey. The authors discuss the challenges and the difficulty maintaining the momentum of a high functioning organization. In 2006, nursing leadership was reorganized and a leadership retreat developed a blueprint for creating a culture of accountability. There were three simple goals for the “Blueprint for Nursing Leadership”: Distributed Responsibility, Non-Stop Skill Development, and Accountability. Distributed responsibility focused on the mission and values of...
Words: 267 - Pages: 2
...WORD COUNT 1648 1 Law, Accountability and Ethics in prescribing During my supervised practice in an outpatient clinic the non-medical prescriber I was with was asked by a colleague to prescribe for a patient on her behalf. In my role as a vascular clinical nurse specialist, I run nurse led clinics working alongside other nonprescribing colleagues seeing patients with peripheral vascular disease, this can range from patients with leg ulcers or diabetic foot ulceration with wound infections to patients with intermittent claudication, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm or varicose veins, all of whom may or may not need medications or wound management treatments prescribed. It is very likely that during these clinics once I qualify as a non-medical prescriber I will be asked the same. In this essay I will explore the issues of law, accountability and ethics raised by prescribing on behalf of others. The legal system of England and Wales has two branches of law; criminal and civil Criminal Law: Statues are acts of parliament which are presented via the House of Commons moves to the House of Lords where amendments are made, returns to House of Commons, for final discussion when complete the Bill is given Royal Assent and passes into law. Criminal law involves offences against the state, it is usually the Crown that brings the action against the defendant (Gagan 2010 cited by Courtnay & Griffin). In terms of non-medical prescribing there are two important statues ...
Words: 2756 - Pages: 12
...and BSN Nursing is a self-motivated and multifaceted discipline, one that requires skilled, knowledgeable, and self-sufficient practitioners. The roots of nursing are firmly based on service to other individuals, groups, and communities. ADN Program Associate degree nursing programs are intended to be two years in length based to prepare practical bedside nurses for secondary care settings, such as community hospitals and long-term care facilities. The Associate degree nurse is prepared .to function at the intermediate level, not in leadership and management position. The professional behaviors, communication, assessment, clinical decision making, caring interventions, teaching and learning, collaboration, and managing care are the eight center competencies of ADN. By using clinical and thinking skills ADN graduate is responsible for caring for others while keeping the values of nursing profession for better outcomes. The inclusion of public health nursing as a part of curriculum is main difference between nursing in baccalaureate and diploma programs. BSN Program The Baccalaureate graduates are prepared in order think reasonably, evaluate critically, and communicate effectively with clients and other health care professionals. Baccalaureate programs are four academic years in length, and the nursing major is typically concentrated at the upper division level. There are vital components to prepare the baccalaureate graduate as generalist to practice nursing in beginning...
Words: 1003 - Pages: 5
