Introduction
Personal conduct in the healthcare context must align with recognized ethical, organizational, and professional standards in the management of patients. This is vital because recognizing dilemmas and making decisions depends on an individual’s ability to blend personal values and organizational principles effectively. A comprehensive understanding of ethical principles is necessary to minimize conflict and provide quality health services to patients.
The ethical principles that guide nursing practice are essential for protecting the patient’s well-being. Professional standards ensure that the quality of care is standardized across all aspects of the healthcare system. The recognition of the need to facilitate the alignment of personal and organizational behavior with ethical and professional standards is one of the MS-HCA program’s key objectives.
Ethical Principles
The MS-HCA program emphasizes key ethical principles that must always be applied in nursing practice. The first is autonomy, which emphasizes that all individuals have intrinsic worth, giving them the power to make decisions and moral choices as they exercise self-determination. It is worth noting that this principle does not apply to individuals who are younger than the legal age or those subject to the effects of mental disorders. I learned the value of autonomy from the MS-HCA program by experiencing the value of disclosing all medical information and treatment options to patients so they can make informed decisions regarding their health.
The second ethical principle affecting nursing practice is informed consent. Through the MS-HCA program, I have learned that informed consent applies when the patient is competent to understand the proposed intervention, is provided with all the information, and comprehends the implications of the decision. It is also vital to be truthful in all patient encounters in the healthcare context.
The program has taught me that the relationship between a healthcare professional and a patient is based on trust, hinged on providing truthful information. The MS-HCA program emphasizes the need for full disclosure because patients have a right to know the extent of their diagnosis and the impact it may have on their overall well-being. The program’s activities demonstrate the most effective techniques for ensuring patients can access complete information. I appreciate the need to be tactful and sensitive when giving medical information to vulnerable patients and their families. The practices above are necessary because denying patients access to vital information could limit their ability to complete essential life tasks, such as giving advice or organizing their financial affairs.
Confidentiality is essential in healthcare, given the sensitivity of medical information. The MS-HCA program provides numerous examples and activities demonstrating the need to prevent the disclosure of confidential patient information without explicit authorization. However, the patient’s care team can share necessary medical information within the healthcare context. The MS-HCA program teaches learners how to treat all people fairly and equitably. Justice in clinical practice highlights the need to ensure that all community members have access to services, which are distributed according to need and merit.
I have learned how to share scarce resources and care for uninsured patients. Among the examples of the MS-HCA program that highlight this ethical principle is the choice of treatment options that benefit the healthcare professional financially when other equally effective alternatives are available. Yesalis et al. (2012) provide numerous examples highlighting ethics’ role in the American healthcare landscape. The lessons in the text have been instrumental in defining my understanding of the healthcare system.
Legal Standards
Specific legal standards impact the provision of services in the healthcare context. Some of the most common legal issues that impact nursing practice involve a patient’s refusal of treatment, patient property, malpractice, licensure, and negligence. All the aforementioned factors align with organizational rules governing practice in various healthcare settings. The MS-HCA program has taught me how to align personal values and the ethical standards that apply in various jurisdictions. As envisioned by Wilensky and Teitelbaum (2022), the specific elements of the law and health policy have been instrumental in increasing my knowledge of the healthcare legal framework. As a result, I sincerely appreciate the policies and guidelines governing nursing healthcare practice.
The MS-HCA program stipulates specific licensure requirements for one to practice as a nurse in specific regions. I have learned that licensure is an effective tool for public protection. It ensures that all individuals providing healthcare services meet the outlined qualifications. The MS-HCA program has taught me the importance of respecting and safeguarding a client’s possessions. Various healthcare organizations have policies that stipulate the steps one must take to ensure the safety of a patient’s belongings while admitted to a healthcare facility.
Through the MS-HCA program, I have learned that malpractice is an act that does not meet the outlined care standards and may result in patient injury. The program outlines the measures nurses must take to avoid causing harm to patients. This is closely linked to negligence, which I have learned is an act that results in poor quality service delivery in the healthcare context. These and other health management practices outlined in Dunn (2020) have played a pivotal role in defining my understanding of the relationship between personal values and organizational legal requirements.
Mandatory reporting is a legal requirement in all healthcare institutions. The MS-HCA program outline outlines a nurse’s legal mandate to report all incidences of abuse, dog bites, gunshot injuries, and specific communicable illnesses. I have also learned the importance of documentation by engaging in exercises and clinical exposure sessions, demonstrating the techniques and value of keeping accurate records. Other legal issues include informed consent and a patient’s refusal of treatment.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) outlines specific provisions designed to protect the confidentiality of patient information (Wager et al., 2017). I have learned the provisions of the law and the exact mechanisms through which it mandates the protection of personal information in the healthcare context. The MS-HCA program outlines the steps one must take to address instances where a patient declines specific interventions designed to alleviate their suffering or address a specific ailment. Nurses must align their values with the prevailing legal standards to provide quality services to their clientele.
Professional Standards of Care
The professional standards of care focus on a nurse’s diagnostic, intervention, and evaluation skills. While in the MS-HCA program, I learned how to analyze and assess information to reach a diagnosis, identify expected outcomes, plan an individualized care plan, and implement planned interventions. The accomplishment of the tasks above depends on a nurse’s ability to adhere to specific standards of practice. I have learned that professional standards are vital because they guide clinical practice.
In addition, they are a means through which individuals can use to develop a framework for clinical competency. They also ensure that all practitioners are accountable for their clinical decisions when addressing patient needs. The PowerPoint summaries, study questions, and teaching aids in Nash et al. (2019) played a critical role in reinforcing my understanding of how professional standards are inextricably linked to quality services. All nurses must adhere to the standards of practice to ensure that all healthcare needs are addressed effectively.
Conclusion
Personal and organizational conduct in the healthcare context must be aligned with ethical and legal principles. The objective is to ensure that healthcare personnel are equipped with the skills they need to address medical dilemmas and protect the patient’s physical and mental well-being. In addition, adherence to professional standards of care is essential for providing consistent care across the continuum. The provision of quality services depends on the nurse’s ability to apply ethical principles and adhere to the legal framework in the healthcare system. The MS-HCA program provides a wealth of resources that expose learners to the knowledge required to address patient needs by ensuring that their personal and organizational practices adhere to guidelines that define nursing professionalism.
References
Dunn, R. T. (2020). Dunn and Haimann’s healthcare management (11th ed.). Health Administration Press.
Nash, D. B., Joshi, M. S., Ransom, E. R., & Ransom, S. B. (2019). The healthcare quality book: Vision, strategy, and tools (4th ed.). Health Administration Press.
Wager, K. A., Lee, F. W., Glaser, J. P. (2017). Health care information systems: A practical approach for health care management (4th ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
Wilensky, S. E. & Teitelbaum, J. B. (2022). Essentials of health policy and law (5th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Yesalis, C. E., Politzer, R. M., & Holt, H. (2012). Fundamentals of U.S. health care: Principles and perspectives. Cengage Learning.