Essay Code of Conduct for Nurses – NMBA – Nursing Assignment Help

Assignment Task

Introduction

The Code of conduct for nurses sets out the legal requirements, professional behaviour and conduct expectations for all nurses, in all practice settings, in Australia. It describes the principles of professional behaviour that guide safe practice, and clearly outlines the conduct expected of nurses by their colleagues and the broader community.

Individual nurses have their own personal beliefs and values. However, the code outlines specific standards which all nurses are expected to adopt in their practice. The code also gives students of nursing an appreciation of the conduct and behaviours expected of nurses. Nurses have a professional responsibility to understand and abide by the code. In practice, nurses also have a duty to make the interests of people their first concern, and to practise safely and effectively. The code is consistent with the National Law. It includes seven principles of conduct, grouped into domains, each with an explanatory value statement. Each value statement is accompanied by practical guidance to demonstrate how to apply it in practice. Underpinning the code is the expectation that nurses will exercise their professional judgement to deliver the best possible outcomes in practice.

This code applies to all nurses

The principles of the code apply to all types of nursing practice in all contexts. This includes any work where a nurse uses nursing skills and knowledge, whether paid or unpaid, clinical or non-clinical. This includes work in the areas of clinical care, clinical leadership, clinical governance responsibilities, education, research, administration, management, advisory roles, regulation or policy development. The code also applies to all settings where a nurse may engage in these activities, including face-to-face, publications, or via online or electronic means.

Using the code of conduct

The code will be used:

· to support individual nurses in the delivery of safe practice and fulfilling their professional roles

· as a guide for the public and consumers of health services about the standard of conduct and behaviour they should expect from nurses

· to help the NMBA protect the public, in setting and maintaining the standards set out in the code and to ensure safe and effective nursing practice

· when evaluating the professional conduct of nurses. If professional conduct varies significantly from the values outlined in the code, nurses should be prepared to explain and justify their decisions and actions. Serious or repeated failure to abide by this code may have consequences for nurses’ registration and may be considered as unsatisfactory professional performance, unprofessional conduct or professional misconduct1, and

· as a resource for activities which aim to enhance the culture of professionalism in the Australian health system. These include use, for example, in administration and policy development by health services and other institutions; in nursing education, in management and for the orientation, induction and supervision of nurses and students.