Family Nursing Diagnosis

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Legal and Ethical Considerations

According to the American Nurses Association (2016), “The Code of Ethics for Nurses was developed as a guide for carrying out nursing responsibilities in a manner consistent with quality in nursing care and the ethical obligations of the profession” (para. 1). Community health nurses must be aware and prepare for many legal and ethical issues that they may come across when caring for patient’s in public setting. One consideration is confidentiality. Community health nurses must ensure that all patient information is safeguarded to ensure that privacy is protected at all times. To ensure that privacy is maintained all personal information could be kept in a locked bag or briefcase. Another consideration is making sure that an informed consent was obtained prior to caring for patients in the community. Community nurses must be sure to obtain consent from all parties involved, especially when care takes place in the home of the patient. All parties must be fully aware of all the care that will be provided and agree to all aspects of the care as a whole before the community nurse can proceed. This covers the community health nurse as a person and as nurse from legal issues regarding one’s right to participate in the plan of care. The last consideration is accurate documentation. There is an old saying that states, “If you don’t document it, you didn’t do it”. This statement is very true in any nurse setting. Accurate documentation does not only assist in accurate care but it also can be beneficial to nurse if her or she is subpoenaed to court in the future. As heath care professionals it is imperative to know and understand what legal and ethical issues are and may be present to protect licensure and well as the patient.

Conclusion

Community health nursing is very important and plays a major role in health promotion and disease prevention. In order for a community nurse to be successful, he or she must embrace and understand the meaning of caring. Jean Watson always expressed the importance of establishing a helping-trusting relationship. When working in the community it is imperative that trust be gained and maintained throughout the nurse-patient relationship. Patients in the community depend on health care professionals to guide them and educate them on issues and topics that concern their health. Therefore, the word care in itself should always be an act that expresses the true foundation of nursing.

References

Ackley, B. J., & Ladwig, G. B. (2014). Nursing Diagnosis Handbook (10th ed.). Maryland

Heights, Missouri: Mosby Elsevier.

American Nurses Association. (2016). Code of Ethics for Nurses. Retrieved from

http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/EthicsStandards/CodeofEthicsforNur

ses.

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2014). Leading Health

Indicators. Retrieved from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/Leading-Health-

Indicators.

Stanhope, M., & Lancaster, J. (2014). Public Health Nursing: Population-Centered Health Care

in the Community (8th ed.). Retrieved from University of Phoenix eBook Collection

database.