Professional Accountability

Professional Accountability

A code of ethics serves to provide a profession with defined goals, focus and obligations of the profession to the individuals they serve. The ANA Code of Ethics (2001) serves to assist the nurse in understanding their role and responsibilities to the patient and other members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team. The Student Rights and Responsibities Policy of the University of Phoenix (2005) serve the same purpose. This policy is a guideline for expected behavior during their tenure as a student at the University, and components of the policy further delineate student's responsibilities while attending a particular program. The expectations of behavior and conduct are outlined. When making a comparison to the University of Phoenix Code of Student Responsibility and Standards of Behavior there are many similarities. Both outline responsibility, honesty, respect for privacy and confidentiality and respect for cultural values and beliefs.

A code of ethics is a tool that functions as a code of conduct for a profession. This code defines the principles and values of the profession and reminds them that they have a moral obligation to the individuals that they serve. Nursing has had several codes of ethics over the years, beginning with the Florence Nightingale Pledge (www.nursingworld.org), and has been revised as nursing has changed. The current code of ethics was revised in 2001 by the ANA (American Association of Nurses {ANA}, 2001). The ANA Code of Ethics (2001) addresses the nursing's' responsibility to the patient, the community both locally and globally and their commitment to the profession to maintain values, advancement through knowledge, education and competency. The code addresses' not only nursing's primary responsibility to the patient, but it's commitment to the profession through the 9 Provisions with interpretative statements.

The University of Phoenix Student Rights and Responsibilities provides the same guidelines to students for behavior and participation as a member of the "academic community." (UOP, 2005). Students attending the University of Phoenix have a moral obligation to abide by the 11 steps of the Code of Student Responsibility. (UOP, p. 25, 2005). Many of these steps are similar in nature to the provisions of the ANA Code of Ethics. The Code outlines behaviors and responsibilities for maintaining confidentiality, privacy, respect of the opinions of others, and the ability to work in a team environment to achieve goals and learning. There are specific codes for each school within the University of Phoenix. The School of Nursing states that each student must comply not only with the regulations of the University, the code of Student responsibility and Standards of Student Behavior, but must also comply with the University of Phoenix Professional Nursing Responsibilities and the ANA Code of Ethics. (UOP, p. 26). In step 9, the University of Phoenix addresses confidentiality and respect for the privacy of others, including personal and professional information. (UOP, p. 25 2005). Information and discussions regarding patient case scenarios, professional discussions or those related to employment must be kept confidential. Each student must be aware that though we rely on our experiences as professionals in order to learn, that we must keep in mind that client information is confidential.

Provision 3 of the ANA Code of Ethics states "The nurse promotes, advocates for and strives to protect the health, safety and rights of the patient." (ANA Code of Ethics, 2001). Trust is the core of the nurse patient relationship. In order to obtain accurate and thorough patient information through assessment and history, a level of trust must be developed and maintained throughout the relationship. Any violation of this trust impacts the ability of the nurse to implement an appropriate plan of care for the patient. Privacy is defined as the right of individuals to keep information about them from being disclosed. (Erickson, 2005) Therefore, patients control who has access to them or their information. Nurses must be aware that patients make decisions regarding how, when and receives their information. . Confidentiality can be described as how that information is treated. (Erickson, 2005). Nurses manage patient information on a daily basis. It is how we manage that information that is important. The nurse has a responsibility to maintain not only patient privacy, but confidentiality of the information. Confidentiality can be compromised because of the access of information through collaboration with other members of the health profession and the ease of electronic documentation and reporting. Nurses have a duty to protect the information they are entrusted with. They should be aware of whom they share information with, and information should only be shared with those who need to know and are directly involved in the care of the patient. In order to maintain confidentiality nurses should not disclose patient identifiers such as names, addresses. Be aware of your surroundings. Confidential information should be secured, shred copies of documents that contain patient information, remove faxed or printed materials immediately.