Foundations of Nursing 1

Subtopic:

Code of Conduct for Nurses

Learning Objectives

Define what a professional code of conduct means in nursing practice.
Describe ethical responsibilities toward patients, colleagues, institutions, community, law, and self.
Apply core ethics like confidentiality, consent, and non-maleficence in care settings.
Understand institutional and legal obligations, including reporting misconduct.
Identify behaviors that breach professional standards, such as bribery or working under influence.
Value ongoing professional education and peer collaboration to maintain standards.
Use specific code articles to respond ethically in complex patient scenarios.

Professional Code of Conduct

Definition: The professional code of conduct is the way how one must behave towards his/her clients/patients, institution, and the entire community, which is acceptable professionally and publicly

Self

Report any conduct that endangers clients/patients.
Stay informed of current nursing practices, theory, and issues, and make judgments based on facts.

Client/Patient

Provide clients/patients with accurate information about care.
Conduct nursing in a manner that ensures clients’ safety and well-being.

Professional

Maintain ethical standards in practice.
Encourage other professional peers to follow the same ethical standards.
Report colleagues with unethical behaviors.

Employment Institution

Follow practices and procedures defined by the institution.

Community/Society

Maintain ethical conduct in the care of all clients in all settings.

Code of Conduct and Ethics for Health Workers

Article 29. Code of Conduct

This part of the act shall constitute a code of conduct and shall be observed by all health workers.

Article 30. Responsibility to Patients

A health worker shall hold the health, safety, and interest of the patient as the first consideration and shall render due respect to each patient at all times and in all circumstances.
Ensure that no action or omission on your part or sphere of responsibility is detrimental to the interest, condition, or safety of the patient.
A nurse shall provide a patient with relevant, clear, and accurate information about his/her health and the management of his/her condition.
Treatment and other forms of medical intervention to a patient who has the capacity to consent shall not be undertaken without the patient’s full, free, and informed consent except in emergencies when such intervention may be done in the best interest of the patient.
In the case of minors or other incompetent patients, consent shall be obtained from a parent, relative, guardian, or the head of the hospital.
The nurse shall respect the confidentiality of information relating to the patient and his family; such information shall not be disclosed to anyone without the patient’s consent or appropriate guardian, except where it is in the best interest of the patient.
A health worker who attends to a person held in detention shall do so in the interest of the detainee, and strict confidentiality must be observed just as with other patients.
A health worker shall not take, ask for, or accept any bribe from the patient or relatives.
Maximum care shall be taken not to compromise the confidentiality and interest of the patient when carrying out an examination or supplying a report at the request of an authorized person.
A health worker shall not abandon a patient under his/her care.

Article 31. Responsibility to the Community

The nurse should ensure that no action or omission on her/his part or sphere of responsibility is detrimental (endangers) to the interest, condition, or safety of the public.
A health worker shall promote the provision of effective health services and shall notify the health team and other authorities whenever he/she becomes aware of a hazard to the community (e.g., outbreak of cholera, dysentery, Ebola, etc.).

Article 32. Responsibility to Health Unit/Institution (Place of Work)

The health worker shall abide by the rules and regulations governing the place of work and shall conform to the expectations of the health unit, striving to fulfill the mission of the institution.

Article 33. Responsibility to Law, Profession, and Self

A health worker shall observe the law, uphold the dignity of his/her profession, and adhere to accepted ethical principles.
A health worker shall not engage in activities that discredit his/her profession or the delivery of health services and shall expose without fear or favor all those who engage in illegal or unethical conduct and practice (e.g., stealing, poor dressing code, etc.).
The health worker shall respect the confidentiality of information relating to the patient and his/her family; such information shall not be disclosed to anyone without the patient’s or appropriate guardian’s written consent except where it is required by law.
A health worker shall maintain a high standard of professional knowledge and skills to ensure professional competence through continuing medical education programs.
A health worker shall not directly or indirectly advertise his/her professional skills or allow himself/herself to be advertised directly or indirectly and shall not entice patients from his/her colleagues except to notify the public of the services available in the health facilities.
A health worker shall not perform his/her duties under the influence of alcohol.
A health worker shall not indulge in dangerous lifestyles such as alcoholism or drug addiction that discredit the profession.
The health worker shall not support or become associated with cults or unscientific practices professing to contribute to health care.
A health worker shall be registered with his/her relevant professional council and be a member of the national association.
Nurses shall acknowledge any limitation in their knowledge and competence and decline any duty or responsibility unless able to perform them in a safe and skilled manner.

Article 34. Responsibility to Colleagues

A health worker shall cooperate with his/her professional colleagues, recognize and respect each other’s expertise in the interest of providing the best possible holistic care as a health team.

These sections outline the responsibilities and ethical conduct expected of health workers to ensure the highest standards of care and professionalism.

Objective Questions on Professional Code of Conduct

What is the primary consideration for a health worker according to the professional code of conduct?
- a) Personal gain
- b) Health, safety, and interest of the patient
- c) Advertising professional skills
- d) Accepting bribes
- Answer: b) Health, safety, and interest of the patient
- Rationale: The primary consideration is to prioritize the health, safety, and interest of the patient.
What should a health worker do if they observe conduct that endangers clients/patients?
- a) Ignore it
- b) Report it
- c) Participate in it
- d) Keep it a secret
- Answer: b) Report it
- Rationale: Health workers are required to report any conduct that endangers clients/patients.
What is the responsibility of a nurse when providing information to patients?
- a) Provide inaccurate information
- b) Provide accurate information
- c) Withhold information
- d) Provide information only to relatives
- Answer: b) Provide accurate information
- Rationale: Nurses must provide clients/patients with accurate information about their care.
What should a nurse do if they are asked to perform a procedure they are not competent in?
- a) Perform it anyway
- b) Decline the duty
- c) Ask for help
- d) Ignore the request
- Answer: b) Decline the duty
- Rationale: Nurses should acknowledge any limitations in their knowledge and competence and decline duties they cannot perform safely.
What is the ethical responsibility of a nurse when providing care to a patient in detention?
- a) Disclose the detainee’s health information to authorities
- b) Prioritize the detainee’s health and maintain confidentiality
- c) Refuse to provide care to the detainee
- d) Accept bribes from the detainee
- Answer: b) Prioritize the detainee’s health and maintain confidentiality
- Rationale: Nurses must provide care to detainees with the same ethical standards as other patients, including maintaining confidentiality.
What should a health worker do if they become aware of a hazard to the community?
- a) Ignore it
- b) Notify the health team and authorities
- c) Keep it a secret
- d) Handle it alone
- Answer: b) Notify the health team and authorities
- Rationale: Health workers must promote effective health services and notify authorities of any hazards to the community.
What is the responsibility of a health worker towards the institution they work for?
- a) Disregard rules and regulations
- b) Abide by the rules and regulations
- c) Promote personal interests
- d) Advertise professional skills
- Answer: b) Abide by the rules and regulations
- Rationale: Health workers must follow the practices and procedures defined by their institution.
What should a nurse do if they observe a colleague engaging in unethical behavior?
- a) Ignore the behavior
- b) Report the behavior to the appropriate authorities
- c) Join in the unethical behavior
- d) Keep it a secret
- Answer: b) Report the behavior to the appropriate authorities
- Rationale: Nurses have a duty to report unethical behavior to maintain professional standards.
What is the ethical principle of “confidentiality”?
- a) Sharing patient information with everyone
- b) Protecting privileged information
- c) Advertising professional skills
- d) Accepting bribes
- Answer: b) Protecting privileged information
- Rationale: Confidentiality involves protecting patient information from unauthorized disclosure.
What should a nurse do if they are under the influence of alcohol?
- a) Perform their duties
- b) Avoid performing their duties
- c) Advertise their professional skills
- d) Accept bribes
- Answer: b) Avoid performing their duties
- Rationale: Nurses should not perform their duties under the influence of alcohol.
What is the responsibility of a nurse towards their professional knowledge and skills?
- a) Ignore continuing education
- b) Maintain a high standard of professional knowledge and skills
- c) Advertise their professional skills
- d) Accept bribes
- Answer: b) Maintain a high standard of professional knowledge and skills
- Rationale: Nurses must ensure professional competence through continuing education programs.
What should a nurse do if they are asked to advertise their professional skills?
- a) Agree to advertise
- b) Refuse to advertise
- c) Accept bribes
- d) Ignore the request
- Answer: b) Refuse to advertise
- Rationale: Nurses should not directly or indirectly advertise their professional skills.
What is the responsibility of a nurse towards their colleagues?
- a) Compete with them
- b) Cooperate with them
- c) Ignore them
- d) Advertise their professional skills
- Answer: b) Cooperate with them
- Rationale: Nurses should cooperate with their professional colleagues to provide the best possible holistic care.
What should a nurse do if they observe illegal or unethical conduct?
- a) Ignore it
- b) Expose it without fear or favor
- c) Join in the conduct
- d) Keep it a secret
- Answer: b) Expose it without fear or favor
- Rationale: Nurses must expose illegal or unethical conduct to maintain professional standards.
What is the responsibility of a nurse towards the community?
- a) Ignore community health hazards
- b) Promote effective health services
- c) Advertise their professional skills
- d) Accept bribes
- Answer: b) Promote effective health services
- Rationale: Nurses must promote effective health services and notify authorities of any hazards to the community.
What should a nurse do if they are asked to perform a procedure they are not competent in?
- a) Perform it anyway
- b) Decline the duty
- c) Ask for help
- d) Ignore the request
- Answer: b) Decline the duty
- Rationale: Nurses should acknowledge any limitations in their knowledge and competence and decline duties they cannot perform safely.
What is the ethical principle of “fidelity”?
- a) Fulfilling promises
- b) Protecting privileged information
- c) Advertising professional skills
- d) Accepting bribes
- Answer: a) Fulfilling promises
- Rationale: Fidelity involves being faithful to commitments and promises made to patients.
What should a nurse do if they are asked to perform a procedure they are not competent in?
- a) Perform it anyway
- b) Decline the duty
- c) Ask for help
- d) Ignore the request
- Answer: b) Decline the duty
- Rationale: Nurses should acknowledge any limitations in their knowledge and competence and decline duties they cannot perform safely.
What is the responsibility of a nurse towards their professional knowledge and skills?
- a) Ignore continuing education
- b) Maintain a high standard of professional knowledge and skills
- c) Advertise their professional skills
- d) Accept bribes
- Answer: b) Maintain a high standard of professional knowledge and skills
- Rationale: Nurses must ensure professional competence through continuing education programs.
What should a nurse do if they are asked to advertise their professional skills?
- a) Agree to advertise
- b) Refuse to advertise
- c) Accept bribes
- d) Ignore the request
- Answer: b) Refuse to advertise
- Rationale: Nurses should not directly or indirectly advertise their professional skills.

These questions and answers cover various aspects of the professional code of conduct, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

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