Nursing Competency Standards - Code of Professional Practice - Nursing Essay Assessment Answers

Nursing Assignment

Case Scenario

The writer will explain the legislation and common law of Competency Standards for the Enrolled Nurse. The Competency Standards document (2002) reflects four domains of EN practice: professional and ethical practice, critical thinking and analysis and management of care and enabling. There are 10 competencies and each competency contains several elements. The elements enable measurement of whether or not the competency has been attained by an EN on entry to practice (Koutoukidis, G, Stainton, K & Hughson, J, 2014).

Note: Woolworths Holdings Limited (JSE: WHL) is not Woolworths Limited (ASX Code: WOW).

Assignment Task

Section 1:

1. Research and add to your portfolio for this unit the following documents:
2. Competency standards for the Enrolled Nurse. (supplied)
3. Code of professional practice for nurses
4. Code of Ethics for Nurses
5. In your own words, describe what do these documents tell you in regards to your ongoing registration and practice as an Division 2/ Enrolled Nurse within Australia? (500 words)

Section 2:

3. Research one of the following theorists.

• Henderson
• Roper
• Orem
• Watson
• Gordon
• Pepalau
• Review their theory and discuss how their theory is applied to contemporary nursing practice in today's society. Essay should be a minimum of 1 page in length per section (750 - 1000 words) plus be correctly referenced in text as well as a separate reference page as per assignment writing criteria and referencing guidelines.

Introduction

INTRODUCTION

George (2002) submits that nursing is a body whose members are professionals and so should adhere to certain performance standards. It is required of the nurses that they operate autonomously but within certain scopes and regulations. Some of these boundaries for nurses can be defined as:

Competency standards for the enrolled nurse

It is required of these nurses that they pass the licensing examination. The exams are a way of enabling the qualified individuals to attain the prescribed competencies for the relevant level for which they seek to enroll. Upon completion of these exams and satisfying the examiners, it is required of them to hold a valid practicing license. And for whoever wishes to go into private practice, it is required that they also hold a certificate of license for private practice.

Code of professional practice

This profession requires its members to strictly adhere to a code of professional practice that guides their daily activities. They are namely:

1. 1. Discipline: This entails self-control, compliance to set rules and regulations and orderliness.
   2. Intelligence: This is the power to learn, understand and reason hence making ideal decisions enabling one to act appropriately.
   3. Understanding: Knowledge of the meaning, importance or cause and interpretation of information received and also the ability to show insight and tolerance.
   4. Observant: Quick at noticing things, carefulness to observe laws, customs, tradition, values, norms and ability to detect changes in health indicators.
   5. Trustworthy: This requires the nurses to be honest, reliable and responsible.
   6. Tact: This is a skill of not offending people or gaining good will by saying or doing the right thing .e.g. careful planning.
   7. Patience: Nurses must have the ability to accept delay or annoyance or suffering without complaining.

• Efficiency: Nurses to have the ability to work well, have the capacity to produce satisfactory results without wasting time, energy, and resources.

Nurse’s code of ethics

In addition to the above-mentioned, nurses are required to hold high the code of ethics governing them and this involves:

1. Health and well-being: The code of ethics dictates that nurses should see to it that individuals achieve an optimum health level regardless of the situation they are in .i.e. in illness or in good health.
2. Choice: The code of ethics dictates that nurses should uphold the client’s autonomy. Therefore, they have to they have to obtain the necessary information that’ll allow their clients freely express their desires and needs.
3. Dignity: The code dictates that nurses ought to have dignity and self-respect for the human life.
4. Confidentiality: it is the responsibility of the nurses to ensure information on their clients is safeguarded and only shared with the client’s consent or within the confines of the law.
5. Fairness: The codes of ethics dictate that nurses have the responsibility of upholding, equity, justice and fairness while administering their duties as per the client needs.
6. Accountability: Nurses must be willing to undertake professional responsibilities and are accountable for their judgment, actions and omissions.
7. Positive practice environment: Nurses must advocate for positive practice environment. This environment should be such that it harbors human and organizational structures that allow for competent and safe ways of disseminating nursing care.