Professional Roles and Values

A. Agencies that are run by the state are considered a regulatory agency. States have their own board that will set the criteria for nurses in each state. The Board of Nursing for each state sets the continuing education requirements for the various levels of nursing, the educational requirements for initial licensure as well as the scope of practice that the nurse is allowed to carryout. TheStateBoardofNursinginvestigatesmisconductbyanurseandsetsdisciplinary actions as needed, as well as investigates any complaints against a nurse. The State Boards enforce the Nursing Practice Act. The Nursing Practice Act is a standard for the board to certify that there is a standard of practice as well as laws to safeguard patients cared for by nurses. (National Council of State Boards of Nursing) A professional nursing organization is not government regulated and is for support of the professional nurse. Nurses join these organizations for the support and continuing education credits they can earn. Most PNOs, professional nursing organizations, involve a membership, and they offer continuing education credits that help to keep nurses up to date in the current joboppurtunitesandmedicalpracticestheirfield. TheAmericanNursesAssociation(ANA)is one of many PNO’s. The ANA is involved with numerous issues that encompass safe staffing on units, fair pay for nurses, as well as keeping current in politics and health care practice that influences nursing. I am a member of AWHONN, (Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses), they offer numerous instructive opportunities, as well as scholarships and current best practice in this area of nursing. Professional Nursing Organizations are geared towards helping advocate for the nurse, while state boards of nursing advocate for patient safety while under the care of a nurse. My RN license is maintained through the state of Washington. The enhancement of my career and learning opportunities are offered through various PNOs. A1. Provision 3 The nurse promotes, advocates for, and protects the rights, health and safety of the patient. [Ame16] This is my every day work environment. On the unit that I work for it is a LDRP, which is a labor and delivery and post-partum unit as well as a level 2 NICU. Our unit provides care for many pregnant mothers and many come in under the influence of drugs, both prescribed and street drugs. Inmyareaofnursingwearecaringfortwopatients,themotherandtheunbornchild and after birth takes place it is the mother and her newborn. As part of the LDRP team it is my job to assure patient safety and at times take the newborn from the care of his/her parents when there is CPS involvement, newborn drug addiction, or health issues in the newborn. This is a time when families and friends gather to meet the newborn and frequently the mother has not been open to her family and friends about her circumstances. There are many questions when a newborn is moved from the parents care to the NICU, in these situations I have to find a balance between patient advocate for the care of the newborn as well as respect the mother’s wishes to keep her circumstances private. It is at times very difficult to not answer the father’s questions, and in those cases I have to just refer him to speak with the mother of the baby. Provision 5 The nurse owes the same duties to self as to others, including the responsibility to promote health and safety, preserve wholeness of character and integrity, maintain competence, and continue personal and professional growth. [Ame16] I seek out and continue education to better myself as well as certifications in LDRP nursing. I also stay current on best practice for my area of nursing as well as the facility I work for. I do this to provide knowledgeable and safe care to my patients and their family. C1.