Practical Use of the Nursing Code of Ethics, Essay Example

Introduction

Healthcare setting is constantly changing and generating new challenges, which the competent professionals should adopt. Therefore, professionals in the healthcare should have powerful leadership skills towards the provision of primary care to the patients (George, Pozgar & Bartlet, 2011). The healthcare care is full of dilemmas that demand effective decision-making strategies. Leaders should be able to speedily analyze any given situation and make informed decision founded on the analysis (Purtilo & Doherty, 2011). There is the need for professionals to use effective problem-solving and planning techniques to achieve the desired results. Leadership is a many-sided practice by which a leader, especially professionals influences others to realize the mission, task, or an objective and directs the organization in a manner that it is more cohesive and coherent. Professionals in healthcare have a responsibility of demonstrating professional competence, integrity, and courage by setting high personal standards before rightfully demanding the same from others. This paper reflects my personal thought on morality. It also reflects on my leadership style and progress as a leader.

The concept of morality

The concept of moral among healthcare professionals as I understand revolves around maintaining ethical behaviors while discharging their duties. Professionals face a number of dilemmas in the healthcare environment because they are confronted with increasingly multifaceted moral, as well as ethical dilemmas (Purtilo & Doherty, 2011). I believe that morality helps professionals to deal with ethical issues and take an appropriate action when doing the right thing is not straightforward. I have seen this played out in my own experience where I have been in dilemmas in situations whereby my capability to do the right thing was hampered by conflicting beliefs and values of other healthcare providers. Over time, I have come to know that ethical values and practices are the foundation upon which moral actions in professional practice are based. Therefore, according to me, a morally responsible professional in healthcare setting entails being able to distinguish and respond to unethical practices or failure to offer quality patient care. Indeed, as alluded by Navran (2010), the basis of quality healthcare care comprises of professional practice acts, specialty practice guidelines, and professional codes of ethics.

As a professional healthcare provider, I have encountered numerous instances where I am required to make the right decisions. According to Lachman, (2009), virtue ethics and values are important elements that enable professionals advance their careers. Thus, virtue ethics is more than just doing something, it is about doing what is right. Throughout my experience, I have made a number of decisions that demanded choosing between wrong and right. In Most of cases, I have based my decisions on established healthcare rules and personal values. Navran, (2010) sates, virtue ethics, and values allow professionals to serve their clients by ensuring that the patients receive the services they need. Some of my values that have developed throughout my experience, and which have enabled me to upheld ethical behavior include accountability, honesty, and integrity. I believe that all health care professionals must carry themselves in a proper way and should always make ethical decisions to become role models.

Reflection of my leadership and its development

I am always surprised about how much one can learn about himself when faced with difficult decision to make. Being in this program has demanded my personal reflection. During this period, I have learnt many things about my leadership. For instance, I have always wanted to take control of situation without minding how this affects others. For example, when required to work in a group, I have always offered to do more than my fair share of task. This way, I end up controlling the group. Although some group members do not object my actions, others may feel offended. Through this program and through reflection I have come to know that this may make other group members feel undervalued.

Again, I am a detail-oriented person and sometimes I can be critical. I set very high standard for myself and set high standard for others, as well as for organizations. When I was young, it was very hard for me to accept or notice that I was being critical. However, over time and with the help from this program I am now aware of this tendency.  Being conscious of this tendencies allows me to pull back from situations and examine my behavior to adjust if I am being overly judgmental or critical.  However, it is important to point out that this shift did not come easily; it took time, hard work and determination. Nevertheless, I am now happy to say that I have made great improvements.

Another important thing to note is that I am soo passionate about my work that some time I take critics to be personal. However, with time I have learnt to take critics constructively, use them to my benefits, and make necessary improvement.

Conclusion

Indeed, this program has helped me to become better leader. I aspire to improve continually my leadership skills. It is important to note that, my experience and this program have laid my foundation as a leader. My focus now is to continue fine-tuning these leadership skills. In particular, I want to continue expanding my goal setting skill, which I feel will enable me take bigger leadership role. In fact, in the near future, I see myself as a health administrator at district level.

References

George D. Pozgar, Jones & Bartlett (2011). Legal and Ethical Issues for Health Professionals, 3rd Edition. Learning (ISBN: 978-1-4496-7211-9).

Lachman, V. (2009). Practical use of the nursing code of ethics: part I. Medsurg Nursing. 18 (1), pp. 55-57.

Navran, F. J. (2010). Defining Values, Morals, and Ethics. Palm Coast, Florida, USA.

Purtilo, R., & Doherty, R. (2011). Ethical dimensions in the health professions (5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.