Professionalism, Professional Values & Ethics Including Bioethics

Unit

Learning Outcomes

Content

Time

(Hrs)

I

Discuss nursing as a

Profession

Describe the concepts

and attributes of

professionalism

Identify the challenges

of professionalism

Maintain respectful

communication and

relationship with other

health team members,

patients and society

Demonstrate

professional conduct

Respect and maintain

professional

boundaries between

patients, colleagues

and society

Describe the roles and

responsibilities of

regulatory bodies and

professional

organizations

Professionalism

Profession

·         Definition of profession

·         Criteria of a profession

·         Nursing as a profession

Professionalism

·         Definition and characteristics of professionalism

·         Concepts, attributes and indicators of professionalism

·         Challenges of professionalism

o    Personal identity vs professional identity

o    Preservation of self-integrity: threat to integrity, Deceiving patient: withholding information and falsifying records

o    Communication & Relationship with team members: Respectful and open communication and relationship pertaining to relevant interests for ethical decision making

o    Relationship with patients and society

Professional Conduct

·         Following ethical principles

·         Adhering to policies, rules and regulation of the institutions

·         Professional etiquettes and behaviours

·         Professional grooming: Uniform, Dress code

·         Professional boundaries: Professional relationship with the patients, caregivers and team members

Regulatory Bodies & Professional

Organizations: Roles & Responsibilities

·         Regulatory bodies: Indian Nursing Council, State Nursing Council

·         Professional Organizations: Trained

Nurses Association of India (TNAI),

Student Nurses Association (SNA),

Nurses League of Christian Medical

Association of India, International

Council of Nurses (ICN) and

International Confederation of Midwives

5 (T)

II

Discuss the importance of professional values

Distinguish between personal values and professional values

Demonstrate

appropriate

professional values in

nursing practice

Professional Values

·         Values: Definition and characteristics of values

·         Value clarification

·         Personal and professional values

·         Professional socialization: Integration of professional values with personal values

Professional Values in Nursing

·         Importance of professional values in nursing and health care

·         Caring: definition, and process

·         Compassion: Sympathy Vs empathy, Altruism

·         Conscientiousness

·         Dedication/devotion to work

·         Respect for the person- Human dignity

·         Privacy and confidentiality: Incidental disclosure

·         Honesty and integrity: Truth telling

·         Trust and credibility: Fidelity, Loyalty

·         Advocacy: Advocacy for patients, work environment, nursing education and practice, and for advancing the profession

5 (T)

III

Define ethics &

Bioethics

Explain ethical

Principles

Identify ethical

Concerns

Ethical issues and

dilemmas in health

care

Explain process of ethical decision making and apply knowledge of ethics and bioethics in making ethical decisions

Explain code of ethics

stipulated by ICN and INC

Discuss the rights of

the patients and families to make decisions about health

care

Protect and respect patients‘ rights

Ethics & Bioethics

Definitions: Ethics, Bioethics and

Ethical Principles

·         Beneficence

·         Non-maleficence: Patient safety, protecting patient from harm, Reporting errors

·         Justice: Treating each person as equal

·         Care without discrimination, equitable access to care and safety of the public

·         Autonomy: Respects patients‘autonomy, Self-determination, Freedom of choice

Ethical Issues and Ethical Dilemma:

Common Ethical Problems

·         Conflict of interest

·         Paternalism

·         Deception

·         Privacy and confidentiality

·         Valid consent and refusal

·         Allocation of scarce nursing resources

·         Conflicts concerning new technologies

·         Whistle-blowing

·         Beginning of life issues

o    Abortion

o    Substance abuse

o    Fetal therapy

o    Selective deduction

o    Intrauterine treatment of fetal conditions

o    Mandated contraception

o    Fetal injury

o    Infertility treatment

·         End of life issues

o    End of life

o    Euthanasia

o    Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)

·         Issues related to psychiatric care

o    Non compliance

o    Restrain and seclusion

o    Refuse to take food

Process of Ethical Decision Making

·         Assess the situation (collect information)

·         Identify the ethical problem

·         Identify the alternative decisions

·         Choose the solution to the ethical decision

·         Implement the decision

·         Evaluate the decision

Ethics Committee: Roles and Responsibilities

·         Clinical decision making

·         Research

Code of Ethics

·         International Council of Nurses (ICN)

·         Indian Nursing Council

Patients’ Bill of Rights-17 Patients’ Rights (MoH&FW, GoI)

1.       Right to emergency medical care

2.       Right to safety and quality care according to standards

3.       Right to preserve dignity

4.       Right to nondiscrimination

5.       Right to privacy and confidentiality

6.       Right to information

7.       Right to records and reports

8.       Right to informed consent

9.       Right to second opinion

10.    Right to patient education

11.    Right to choose alternative treatment options if available

12.    Right to choose source for obtaining medicines or tests

13.    Right to proper referral and transfer, which is free from perverse commercial influences

14.    Right to take discharge of patient or receive body of deceased from hospital

15.    Right to information on the rates to be charged by the hospital for each type of service provided and facilities available on a prominent display board and a brochure

16.    Right to protection for patients involved in clinical trials, biomedical and health research

17.    Right to be heard and seek redressal

10 (T)