Week One Paper: 8/19-8/25
NUR 3826: Ethical & Legal Issues in Health Care

Week One Paper: 8/19-8/25
Nursing is a profession that is diverse and those practicing have the potential to adopt their own standards and competencies. However, thanks to the American Nurses Association, standards and competencies have been adopted, stating that all registered nurses regardless of role, population, or specialty are expected to perform competently (ANA, 2010, p. 2). The 2004 Scope and Standards were revised in 2010 secondary to the change in dynamics of the nursing profession. The current 2010 Scope and Standards (1-16) are thoroughly stated, leaving those reading minimal occasion for misinterpretation, in comparison to the 2004 Scope and Standards (1-15). For example, the 2010 Standard 1. Assessment, specifically states the competencies in collecting data, recognizing the impact of personal attitudes values and beliefs, and the fact that the health care consumer’s care preferences is to be honored because they have the authority over their health. The 2004 Scope and Standard 1. Assessment, gives very general authoritative statements. It never highlights the attitudes, values and beliefs of the nurse and the impact it has on the health care consumer or the fact that the health care consumer has the authority over their health and the nurse has to honor their preferences (ANA, 2010, pp. 32-33, 119).
The 2010 Standard 7. Ethics competencies states that that the registered nurse will practice ethically, clearly stating that the nurse will “take appropriate action regarding instances of illegal, unethical, or inappropriate behavior that can endanger or jeopardize the best interests of the healthcare consumer or situation” (ANA, 2010, p.47). The 2004 Standard 12. Ethics addresses this same subject, stating to report illegal, incompetent, or impaired practices (ANA, 2010,