Professional Roles and Development

Professional Roles and Values Project

Penny Pope

May 1, 2015

Mission Statement:

As a nurse my priority is to provide professional, caring, and competent care to all patients; to be present for them and to address their needs to the best of my ability.

A.

A board of nursing (BON) is a government agency which licenses nurses to practice. They also set nurse practice acts, standards of care, and accredit educational programs in an effort to make sure that nurses are competent to practice and to protect the public. (About Boards of Nursing, 2015)

A professional nursing organization (PNO) supports practicing nurses by advocating for them in government, providing CE, and by acting as a forum for nurses to communicate to each other. A professional nursing organization must be joined. (Why join a professional nursing organization?, 2005)

In terms of how these organizations pertain to my professional nursing practice, the board of nursing maintains my license and regulates my practice. If a complaint were to be filed against me, they would be the organization which would investigate and decide whether punitive action was required. They also impose a certain number of CE hours which must be performed before each renewal of my license. The board of nursing also administers the NCLEX, my licensing exam.

I am a member of the ANA (a PNO), and they continue to influence me through their monthly publications and through their website. The website especially acts as a resource for me to keep up with new ideas in nursing and to understand what is happening to nursing in terms of new or proposed legislation. The ANA also offers CE at a discounted price for members which can help in maintaining my license. In general, the board of nursing establishes my professional credentials while the ANA enhances my practice.

B.

Provision 1:

The nurse,in all professional relationships, practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and uniqueness of every individual, unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of health problems. (Code of Ethics, 2011)

To me, provision 1 really is the core of nursing. I practice at a large teaching hospital which services the uninsured and homeless populations. In this environment I encounter a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds, and I think is it very important to make sure every patient feels that they are valued and are being well cared for no matter what their history or situation.

Provision 5:

The nurse owes the same duties to self as to others, including the responsibility to preserve integrity and safety, to maintain competence, and to continue personal and professional growth. (Code of Ethics, 2011)

Provision 5 speaks to me because it is talking about integrity. It is so important to maintain personal integrity, whether it is in maintaining a high standard of practice, implementing that standard equally, or having the personal integrity of “practicing what I preach” and maintaining my own health and wellbeing.