Each registered nurse, mid-wife, lady health visitor and nursing auxiliary shall act, at all times, in such a manner as to:

  • Protect and promote the interest of the individual client
  • Serve the interests of society
  • Justify public trust and confidence
  • Uphold and enhance the good standing and reputation of his/her profession

In the exercise of professional accountability in reference to the client/patient, he/she will:

  • Assists the client to attain his/her maximum level of health in circumstances of normal health, illness or injury
  • Avoid any abuse of the privileged relationship which exists with the client, and of the special access allowed to his/her person, property, residence or workplace
  • Ensures that no action or omission on his/her part, or within his/her area of responsibility is damaging to the interests, condition or safety of the client
  • Holds in confidence personal information about the client’s consent (or that of a person entitled to act on the client’s behalf), or by judicial rule where this information is required by law or by the order of a court, or as necessary in the public interest
  • Maintains the highest standards of care possible within the reality of a specific situation
  • Makes known to an appropriate person or authority any circumstances which could militate against safe standards of practice
  • Recognizes and respect the cultural and religious briefs of the client
  • Recognizes and respects the uniqueness and dignity of each client and responds in fairness to his/her need of care, irrespective of his/her ethnic origin, religious beliefs, personal attributes, the nature of his/her health problems or any other factor
  • Refuses any gift, favor hospitality that could be interpreted as taking advantage of the client
  • Works in an open and cooperative manner with the client and his/her family, fosters his/her independence, and recognizes and respects the client’s involvement in the planning and delivery of care
  • Protects the client from actions by co-workers/members of the health team which may endanger their health or well being
  • Shares with the community the responsibility for ensuring the health and social welfare of the public

In the exercise of professional accountability in reference to his/her colleagues, he/she shall:

  • Acknowledge the pressure and workload of professional colleagues and supervisors and takes appropriate action if these are seen to constitute abuse of the individual practitioner and/or to jeopardize safe standards of practice
  • Work in an open and co-operative manner with health care professionals and others involved in providing care, recognizing and respecting the particular contributions within the care team
  • Use individual knowledge, experience and share of authority to assist colleagues to increases their professional competence and growth.
  • Work in a collaborative and co-operative manner with other health professionals; gives recognition and respect to their particular contribution within the health care team.

In the exercise of professional accountability in reference to herself/ himself, he/she shall:

  • Maintain and improves his/her professional knowledge and ability
  • Acknowledge and ability and refuses any duties or responsibilities unless he/she is able to perform them in safe and skilled manner
  • Use judgment in relation to individual competence when accepting and/or delegating responsibilities
  • Maintain a life-long interest in the profession and work through this organization to establish and maintain standards of nursing practice and education and in turn help in equitable social and economic working conditions nursing.
  • Share in the development of a care of professional knowledge.
  • Avoid the use of professional qualifications in the promotion of commercial products in order to maintain the independence of professional judgment on which clients rely.

Students:

 

Student nurses, student midwives, student lady health visitors and student nursing auxiliaries shall know and comply with the provision of the professional code of ethics.