The focus of this assignment is to increase our awareness The WritePass Journal

The focus of this assignment is to increase our awareness Introduction The focus of this assignment is to increase our awareness Introduction AccountabilityEthicsLawConclusionRelated Introduction The focus of this assignment is to increase our awareness of the professional, ethical and legal issues that are associated with providing accountable health and social care. Once groups were formulated, and the scenario was decided, the group could discuss and draw focus areas both as a group and individually. A learning journal was kept using diary sheets which documented what was discussed.   The scenario that was chosen by the group was Eddie, based on the numerous ethical issues that arose. This assignment is going to concentrate on the issue of record keeping, and the way it impacts on the role of the accountable practitioner. As part of adult nursing there are various forms of record keeping that exists and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) (2009) stipulates good record keeping is a fundamental element of nursing practice, and is crucial to safe and effectual care. The NMC (2009) guidance for record keeping also specifies that your records should be accurate and recorded in such a way that the meaning is clear and you have a duty to communicate effectively with your colleagues. This was not present throughout this scenario as the constant lack misunderstandings and communication errors are what lead to the medication errors being made, resulting in actual harm to this patient. Caulfield (2005) talks about a framework of accountability based on four pillars, professional, ethical, legal and employment accountability, which takes into account our different understandings as to what accountability is all about. The key pillar within this is the presence of professional accountability, which is a fundamental aspect of nursing and sanctions nurses to work within a structure of practice and follow standards of conduct that preserve the patients trust. Its manifestation spearheaded the creation of our standards of conduct that exists within our governing body the NMC today. Accountability Accountability in terms of record keeping is the facilitation of good governance. There is no solitary source of accountability, as different organisations create different principles and guidelines. As a registered nurse we are obligated and duty-bound by a particular set of standards that govern our profession, this gives us our boundaries and restrictions in which we must work. This is supported by Griffith and Tengnah (2010) which acknowledge that as a registered nurse you will be lawfully and professionally answerable for your behaviour regardless of whether a person is following directives from another individual or using their own ingenuity. Accountability is often seen in practice as a rationalisation of ones actions, specifically in terms of distributing the blame. Blame Mentality can be destructive can often lead to a pessimistic view of accountability and its application in caring for patients and espousing staff (Scrivener, Hand and Hooper, 2011). However one definition that adds a more positive facet view on accountability is that â€Å" it is an inherent confidence as a professional that allows a nurse to take pride in being transparent about the way he or she has carried out their practice† (Caulfield, 2005, p.3). There are systems that are put into place throughout our workplace, these can often govern the care we give our patients; it can also have an impact on the quality in which we deliver this care. However despite this professional accountability is an individual responsibility that is also parallel with duty of care in law. Our governing body of nursing regards professional responsibility and accountability to be at the core of high quality nursing. Neglect, medication errors, poor record keeping and communication problems are the commonest issues, and all told account for almost 60% of cases heard before the fitness to practice panel (NMC, 2010a). This report also identified record keeping as the fourth most common allegation in fitness to practice cases, which is why the current record keeping guidance in place by NMC, is under review. As this report has shown there is definitely a lack of value to documentation shown by nurses, this is perhaps because nurses may feel it is too time consuming and takes away the time we need for our patients. There is also perhaps a negative perception in terms of the importance of record keeping. However the public and our patients expect nurses to be working to a certain level of competence and high standards. This is why the Royal College of Nursing (2010) drew up principles of nursing practice, and within this they stipulate that nurses should take responsibility for the care they carry out, and answer for their own judgements and action. This is to be carried out in accordance with the law and our professional governing body. These principles incorporate the thesis of accountability. In terms of record keeping the principles suggest that nurses are pivotal to the communication process, this is due to recording and reporting on treatment and care that is required. Information th at is not available or written can have an influence on the practice that other healthcare professionals give and the effectiveness of that practice. As the registered nurses role expands, their responsibility becomes greater and so does the level of risk management and legal accountability. Once a healthcare worker adopts obligation for care of a patient, they are legally bound to this through duty of care. This can apply when performing complex tasks or more straightforward tasks such as record keeping. Additionally, where the task has been delegated by another healthcare professional or more senior practitioner, on whom overall accountability lies; there is also a duty of care that lies with that individual to delegate appropriately and effectively. This is mirrored by the NMC (2008) standards of conduct and other care professional organisations. Also in relation to accountability the Essence of Care (2010) document benchmarks best practice required for record keeping. It specifies that staff to be competent to generate, use and sustain care records, together with the aptitude to keep precise, comprehensive care records. Ethics Ethics is a philosophy which determines right and wrong in relation to a person’s decisions or actions. However in nursing this can often compete with other realities and pressures, such as time constraints and the increasing responsibilities that are put upon nurses, such as record keeping. How we interpret ethics is individual, like our morals and beliefs, however ethics are universal and is often implied within our laws and standards of practice. Our governing body the NMC does not mention anything precisely in relation to ethics within the code of conduct, but implies it through the standards and rules that they have set in place. One major ethical issue is that of confidentiality. The Caldicott Report (1997 cited by Department of Health (DOH) 1998) recognised flaws in the way parts of the NHS conducted confidential patient records. They had worries about the quantity of personal material that was being moved and the competence of the of NHS to create a boundary, in which this information was only accessed by those that needed to know. The Caldicott Committee made numerous recommendations and focused on initialising certain frameworks to avoid this occurring. Part of this was to hold NHS organisations responsible for bettering their confidentiality systems and confidentiality breaches. Good record keeping will play a key role in achieving this. They did this by setting out six key principles, which entails justifying the purpose in which you are using that information, not to use that information unless necessary and keep the usage to a minimum, and you should be aware of the responsibilities you have when acc essing that information and understand and obey the law (DOH, 2010). However, although maintaining and protecting patient’s privacy and confidentiality is a matter of law and is governed by our regulating body of nursing.   The Royal College Nursing (2009) thinks that distributing data about patients, taking into account safeguarding, is a vital part of nursing and is important for multi-disciplinary treatment. It is not just a case of one person providing all the care needed every time, and the communication of important information to other health professional is central in relation patient safety and continuity of care.   In order to provide this continuity it is vital that record keeping be precise and exact. Beauchamp and Childress (2008) offer four principles that they believe can structure a guide in ethical decision-making; Autonomy, Non-maleficence, Beneficence and Justice. They consider these four principles to lie at the core of nursing and health care. Non-Maleficence requires that no harm be caused to any patient either intentionally or deliberately. However non-maleficence is not an ethical value on its own, but a concept incorporated by the ethics of beneficence. Not doing harm inevitably means you are doing good .Poor recording keeping could be deemed as clinical negligence and therefore is a breach of duty of care and could lead to harm of a patient. The NMC (2010b) regards safeguarding as part of daily nursing practice so therefore, as a nurse in these environments you should have the skills to realise when something is inappropriate, this could be where an individual in your care is at risk of injury, mistreatment or neglect, including poor practice. This is also the ethical issue in relation to autonomy within record keeping. This gives the patient to freedom to make their own decisions, and in terms of record keeping patients have access to the material they want, to make decisions about their care. They have more control over their own care records. The NHS Published Equality and Excellence (2010) specifying that this is empowering and enabling patients to discuss their care with nurses and get involved in decision making. Justice is about treating individuals fairly and equally and requires nurses to be non- judgemental. Justice is also a concept of fairness. Seedhouse (2009) suggests that there three versions of fairness in justice which are part the overall notion of justice, these are to each according to his rights, what he deserves, and according to his need. Based upon this it is important in record keeping to remember that we must record an evaluation of care that is individual to the patient. It is about our professional judgement on this patient not our personal one. Law The law does not generally advocate who should perform what role or tasks we perform, although there are numerous exceptions, the law does however compel a registered practitioner to abide by a duty of care. This is applies to any healthcare worker that could potentially cause harm to a patient. Once a law is enforced there is a certain standard of care expected of nurses performing certain duties or tasks, like record keeping. The legal standard is appraised by that of a conventional skilled practitioner performing that task or role (Cox, 2010). In relation to particular tasks such as record keeping the courts will apply common sense in establishing the appropriate standard needed. Poor record keeping are inexcusable by the standards of any rational individual. A health professional’s record keeping is the only legal form communication that can be used as evidence of care taking place. Effective record keeping protects a nurse from having to give testimony of their profession al accountability. The courts adopt the attitude that if an action has not been recorded it has simply not taken place (Owen, 2005). Often in circumstances such as discrepancies within record keeping the Bolam Test can be used. The Bolam Test (1957 cited by Robertson 1981) was introduced to establish principles of professional practice, this can be used to judge as to whether any defects or errors have been made, which could have lead to the suffering or harm to that patient. There is numerous legislation within nursing that govern our power and limitations, particularly in relation to the handling and processing of information, which impacts upon record keeping in the process. One key legislation is that of the Data Protection Act (1998). This is the main act in the United Kingdom that protects our personal data and controls the handling of that personal data for both patients and staff. The act requires a healthcare professional to obey the eight principles, in which it encourages equality and honesty when handling particular information. These principles are also there to ensure that data is processed lawfully in accordance with the act. Another piece of legislation that applies to record keeping is the NHS Code of Practice. The Department of Health NHS Code of Practice (2003, p.7) states that â€Å"a duty of confidence arises when one person discloses information to another in circumstances where it is reasonable to expect that the information will be held in confidence. It is a legal obligation that is derived from case law; and is a requirement established within professional codes of conduct†. Our NMC (2008) code of conduct is underpinned by law. It requires us as registered nurses to act lawfully, whether those laws apply to either our professional practice or personal life. Information governance plays a big part within record keeping. Information governance is comprised of a set of principles that the National Health Service (NHS) has to obey to make ensure they maintain complete and precise records of care. They must also keep there records confidential, protected and accurate. This is where the NHS Care Record Guarantee comes in Play. It explains the NHS promise, which is to only use patient’s records in a way that is respectful to their rights and promotes their health and well being. The guarantee ensures that the people who care for our records maintain them in a confidential, secure and accurate manor and to provide information that can be accessed easily (NHS, 2005). The Human Rights Act (1998) exists to protect our civil rights in the United Kingdom (UK) and to increase our understanding of the basic principles and values we share. Anyone in the UK for any reason has elemental human rights. Article 8 of that act, the right to respect for private and family life, is the most relevant in terms of information governance within record keeping. Article 8 reflects the common law duty of confidentiality. If data is inaptly divulged, the person can take legal action. Patient information must be held confidentially and securely. Conclusion In conclusion accountability, ethics and the law are a fundamental and integral part of nursing. Focusing on these key matters helps establish boundaries and principles, in which we can apply to become safer and more competent accountable practitioners Our duty of care bounds us legally and ethically, and also through accountability, to provide accurate record keeping throughout our healthcare system. This is why an awareness of professional codes of practice, ethical decision making and an understanding of accountability and anti-discriminatory concepts, will help strengthen a nurse’s ability to provide impeccable record keeping. The benefits to good record keeping means that patient care will be consistent and that is not compromised.   Both registered nurses and student nurses need to be supported and urged to regard record keeping as having a constructive impact of a patient’s care, rather then just an inconvenience that has to be endured.

Religious Groups Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Religious Groups - Essay Example In America, religion forms a much more part of public life regardless of what the constitution dictates. Several reasons can be attributed to this. The main reason is that the evangelical Christians in the banner of the moral majority created a determined drive to influence American political leaders. This, therefore, injected religion into American political debates. The influence of religious groups in American politics has not changed over time. This is because religion has always been and is still embroiled in the political life of Americans. As a result, American politicians manifest the obvious significance of religion in everyday lives of people. Religion should be paramount in politics. Even with its weaknesses on a human level, the society would be more chaotic than the way it is presently, without religion. This is so because people, who oppose religion, intend to continue committing sins and wish not to be opposed to them. It would, therefore, be a tragic and profound mistake to attempt to separate religion or God from anything, especially

Qualitative Reserach Critique Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Qualitative Reserach Critique - Research Paper Example The research tradition is consistent with the methods used to collect and analyze data because the research is dealing with a phenomenon that is impossible or difficult to quantify statistically. The beliefs, feelings and attributes oblige the research to be qualitative. Women participating in this research were 18 years and over. They completed an active treatment of breast cancer one year or more before the study. In this case, the researcher conducted an initial interview that lasted one hour and thirty minutes at sites. The participants completed the treatment and demographic questionnaire and were further asked to describe the experience of suffering and loneliness. The exclusion criteria comprised women who have cancer recurrence in the course of the research or who suffered from systemic diseases such as unstable hypertension. This was an adequate amount of time considering the research tradition of the pain that women undergo during acute treatment. The treatment may occur on e year or more. Thus, the author established the need for his participants to have adequate amount time so that the data collected may be valid and accurate. The time used helped the author to analyse the pain and loneliness that women with breast cancer undergo. However, the author may have also used a long period of time to show how women in different stages of treatment undergo different pain experience. The research report provides evidences of reflexity in the design because the clinical and demographic characteristics of the sample summarized in the study showed that most participants conveyed a strong experience of loneliness. In comparing with Streubert’s method, the participants revealed that the formalized analysis of survivor loneliness was true and comprehensive to their personal experiences. The Streubert’s method made a clear distinction between theme and essence of personal experience. Part of the experiment was to understand the withholding truth about breast cancer, beliefs about death, and transcending time of the illness. Based on this analysis, most women presented their thoughts on how the illness has affected their personal lives. They shared their views on how they would have been better if they did not suffer from the illness. The actual research designed is well described in this study. This research creates a strong ground for readers to understand the past researchers’ view on the subject and personal experience of women suffering from breast cancer. In the introductory part, the author highlights how the diagnosis and acute treatment of breast cancer trigger pain and loneliness. The struggle and pain to find the true meaning of the personal crisis heighten victims’ consciousness of their identity, self-worth, and the world around them. As a result, this may cause loneliness and lack of confidence. The ideas and facts collected about the experience during the illness created insights on the patientsâ€℠¢ who are most subjective to painful and lonely experiences. The study is exclusive qualitative because the main subject could not be defined or analyzed statistically. The qualitative data collected was used in a complementary fashion in, which the interview session lasted approximately one hour and thirty minutes. The researchers encouraged participants to share artistic and written expressions that revealed their personal ex

Islamophobia Essay Example for Free

Islamophobia Essay Islamophobia is controversy term that refers to perjudice and discrimination of Islam and muslim. It become more popular after attack of 11/9. Now, i’ll tell you about 11/9 issues, which is the series of 4 suicided attack organised by Al-Qaeda on the United states in 11 of september 2001. In that morning, 19 al-qaeda’s seized four passengers jet. And the hijackers intentionally crassh the 2 plane into PWTC in city of newyork. Thus, this tragedy had killed all passengers and most of the workers in the building involved. Both of towers collapsed within 2hours. Suspicion quickly fell on the al-Qaeda’s leader which is Osama bin Laden at that time. As we know that alQaeda such a muslims organization. Based on what had happened to american in this tragedy made the outsiders phobia to Islam and think that Islam suched a terrorist religion. I can give you one opinion of a British journalis in the indipendent, Johan Harry. He argues that authentic Islamophobia exist and consist of the nation that is a uniquely evil religon, more definitly war, like a fanantical than cristianity or budism or others. For more clear, let me tell you about a hindustan movies My Name Is Khan and I’m sure some of you have heard about this movie. The story about Rizwan Khan charactered by Shah Rukh Khan which is a sindrom Asperger. He’s meet his love in america state with a widow, mandira who is have a son named Sam. When they decided to married. Name’s of Sam should be change to Sameer Khan. And the name of khan create a prejudice Islam-christian. Until sameer Khan had been killed at the middle of the field in america by his friends. This is clearly shown the feelings of scared in american until they have to killed their own friends. In 1997 the British RunnymedeTrust defined that Islamophobia is as dread and hatred of Islam and let to the fear and dislike of all muslims. Stating that it also refers to the practise of discriminating againts muslims by excluding them from economic, social, pilitics and public life of the nation. It includes the perception that Islam has no values in common with other cultures is interior to the west and also is violent political ideology rather than a religion. The Runnymede report contrasted open and closed views of Islam, and stated that the following eight closed views are equated with Islamophobia: 1. Islam is seen as a monolithic bloc, static and unresponsive to change. 2. It is seen as separate and other. It does not have values in common with other cultures, is not affected by them and does not influence them. 3. It is  seen as inferior to the West. It is seen as barbaric, irrational, primitive, and sexist 4. It is seen as violent, aggressive, threatening, supportive of terrorism, and engaged in a clash of civilizations.

Bastille Day :: essays research papers fc

"Bastille Day, on the Fourteenth of July, is the French symbol of the end of the Monarchy and the beginning of the French Revolution" (www.hightowertrail.com). It is very much like Independence Day in the United States because it is a celebration of the beginning of a new form of government. There are several factors that led to the Revolution. King Louis XV and King Louis XVI both led extremely extravagant lives. They spent a lot of the government's money on luxuries even while the government had some financial problems. One of the government's main jobs back then was to protect their country from, and manage wars. In the Seven Years War against England, France spent large sums of money on the war effort but they still lost the war and had to give up their colonies in North America. Many French citizens regarded this loss as a major humiliation. The population was divided into three estates. The Third Estate, also known as the commoners was made up of the bourgeoisie, wage earners and the peasantry. They were the majority of the population. The Second Estate was for the nobility. The First Estate was composed of the clergy. The Upper Clergy were very wealthy and powerful and therefore they related to the First Estate. The Lower Clergy related more to the Lower Estates. "The first two states enjoyed privileges over the Third Estate. Although they were the richest, they were exempt from taxes. They were also the only members in society who could hold positions of importance such as Officers in the army" (www.members.aol.com). This caused great discontent within the Third Estate. In 18th Century the peasant population increased dramatically. This growth in population increased the demand for more land. Land was being divided into smaller and smaller sections to cope with this problem. Eventually some sections of land were not even enough for a peasant to support his own family. The wars in America left France in huge debt. To try and pay this debt the nobility increased taxes on the peasants, which further increased their resentment towards the nobility. Poor harvests in 1787 and 1788 led to a food shortage. The peasants could barely feed themselves let alone pay taxes. The peasants started to threaten violence if their situation wasn't improved. There was an increased competition from British textile manufacturers. This left many people without jobs, and a huge increase in unemployment. Bastille Day :: essays research papers fc "Bastille Day, on the Fourteenth of July, is the French symbol of the end of the Monarchy and the beginning of the French Revolution" (www.hightowertrail.com). It is very much like Independence Day in the United States because it is a celebration of the beginning of a new form of government. There are several factors that led to the Revolution. King Louis XV and King Louis XVI both led extremely extravagant lives. They spent a lot of the government's money on luxuries even while the government had some financial problems. One of the government's main jobs back then was to protect their country from, and manage wars. In the Seven Years War against England, France spent large sums of money on the war effort but they still lost the war and had to give up their colonies in North America. Many French citizens regarded this loss as a major humiliation. The population was divided into three estates. The Third Estate, also known as the commoners was made up of the bourgeoisie, wage earners and the peasantry. They were the majority of the population. The Second Estate was for the nobility. The First Estate was composed of the clergy. The Upper Clergy were very wealthy and powerful and therefore they related to the First Estate. The Lower Clergy related more to the Lower Estates. "The first two states enjoyed privileges over the Third Estate. Although they were the richest, they were exempt from taxes. They were also the only members in society who could hold positions of importance such as Officers in the army" (www.members.aol.com). This caused great discontent within the Third Estate. In 18th Century the peasant population increased dramatically. This growth in population increased the demand for more land. Land was being divided into smaller and smaller sections to cope with this problem. Eventually some sections of land were not even enough for a peasant to support his own family. The wars in America left France in huge debt. To try and pay this debt the nobility increased taxes on the peasants, which further increased their resentment towards the nobility. Poor harvests in 1787 and 1788 led to a food shortage. The peasants could barely feed themselves let alone pay taxes. The peasants started to threaten violence if their situation wasn't improved. There was an increased competition from British textile manufacturers. This left many people without jobs, and a huge increase in unemployment.

Needs to qualify for a scholarship Essay

There are hundreds of young people, students who do not have the luxury of going to school and providing for essentials needed to get a decent education. Although there a many grants and scholarships offered to outstanding students which will shoulder their educational expenses, admittedly, the competition is stiff among them. Thus, an aspiring scholar must have an edge over other students who are also vying for the much coveted scholarships. I am one of these aspiring scholars who want to obtain support and funding for my education since I am not as fortunate as other students who have all the financial resources available to them. I believe that my perseverance and determination in finishing my education is the utmost reason why I should be granted a scholarship. It is true that the primary requisite for a scholarship grant is that the scholar must be at the top of his class and very brilliant. See more: how to write a scholarship essay But if we only consider this as the basis for granting a student a scholarship, then it is unfortunate that there will be many students who will be deprived of getting this kind of grant. I am proud to say that I am very diligent and that because of this diligence, I am quite confident that if given the chance to have that scholarship I will be able to keep the scholarship grant. Moreover, I am also a morally upright individual who believes that my interaction and relationship with other people must also reflect my personality, hence, I treat other people in the way that I expect myself to be treated too. The brilliance of an individual should not be the sole basis of granting him a scholarship grant since brilliance can be toppled by diligence too. My diligence and perseverance has brought me this far and I believe that if I will be granted this scholarship, it will take me further to my next journey. The scholarship grant is my passport for a better life – a life that can only be achieved through a decent and quality education which so far has been elusive.

The Life and Work of Gustav Klimt, The Kiss Painter