Running head: ETHICAL CONDUCT IN NURING CARE

Ethical Conduct as the Center of Safety and Quality in Nursing Care Katie D. VanderVelde Ferris State University

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Ethical Conduct as the Center of Safety and Quality in Nursing Care Ethical conduct is a major factor in providing the best care in nursing. Nurses should examine their own values to make sure they match up with professional values. As a result the patient can be guided to clarify values for themselves. We as nurses should provide professional conduct and standards when giving patient care. This includes providing a welcoming atmosphere that is nonjudgmental. Not to mention ethical conduct also includes being accountable, valuing patients, sensible, and respectful. In order for a nurse to perform this skill their job should be satisfying and patient-centered. Interpersonal Influence As described in the book, Fundamental of Nursing: The Art and Science of Nursing Care theorist Nola Pender focused nursing on the health of the patient. The main factor was making sure the individual can make healthcare choices. This theory states that a patients health was enhanced by participating in health promoting behaviors, an individuals beliefs, and more importantly interpersonal influences (Taylor, Lillis, Lemone, & Pamela, 2011). A nurse can serve as an interpersonal influence for the patient, which could help guide the autonomy of the patient. Serving patient autonomy includes holding your own personal values and keeping yourself healthy. A nurse needs to be satisfied with themselves and their jobs in order to provide interpersonal relationships and autonomy for a patient. These ethical principles highly serve the safety and quality of the patient. Satisfaction A nurses level of satisfaction can greatly influence a patients perception. In order for a nurse to provide a safe and welcoming environment their satisfaction should be met. One article explains how nurses who are at higher levels of satisfaction also are at higher levels of autonomy

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and decision making. In comparison a nurse who feels less empowerment thinks they are not as important (Andrews, Burr, & Bushy, 2011). Perceiving yourself as less effective can create a poor self-concept, which could interfere with poor ethical conduct. As also said in the article, nurses should focus on developing interpersonal relationships and a better service climate to enhance nursing care. The Joint Commission put into place a law saying hospitals need to address policies regarding inappropriate behaviors to promote a better service climate (Andrews, Burr, & Bushy, 2011). Nurses and other health care staff need to be professional to enhance a safe and ethical environment for both the patient and employees. Results Improving ethical conduct and patient satisfaction can enhance quality in nursing care. To prove this in a study on patient satisfaction participants were asked to rate overall how satisfied they were with their care. The range of satisfaction went from one, being very dissatisfied, to seven, being very satisfied. Results showed that global satisfaction greatly affected patient care. The mean of the participants ratings in regards to global satisfaction was 6.20 (Greenslade & Jimmieson, 2011, p. 1194). The nurses performance and behavior towards the patient greatly influences patient satisfaction judgments. Conclusion In conclusion a nurse needs to be satisfied with their job to deliver quality care and be an advocate for the patient. Ethical conduct is the center for providing the appropriate care. Hospitals and Health Agencies need to keep developing procedures to create an environment where nurses feel a sense of empowerment and satisfaction. A nurse should provide quality care and safety through having a high self-concept and professionalism. The work place should be a

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welcoming environment for both the patient and the nurse so that an interpersonal relationship can be formed. The theory by Nola Pender greatly impacts nursing care by describing the importance of interpersonal influences. Altogether these characteristics and skills can improve safety and quality in nursing care.

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References Andrews, D., Burr, J., & Bushy, A. (2011). Nurses self-concept and perceived quality of care: a narrative analysis. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 26(1). 69-77. doi:http://0dx.doi.org.libcat.ferris.edu/10.1097/NCQ.0b013e3181e6f3b9 Greenslade, J.H., & Jimmieson, N.L. (2011). Organizational factors impacting on patient satisfaction: A cross sectional examination of service climate and linkages to nurses effort and performance. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 48(10), 1188-1198. doi://http://0-dx.doi.org.libcat.ferris.edu/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2011.04.004 Taylor C.R., Lillis C., Lemone P., & Pamela L. (2011). Fundamentals of Nursing: The Art and Science of Nursing Care (7th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

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