Responsibilities of a Nurse


Responsibilities to the Patient
1. The primary responsibility of the nurse to the patient is to give him/her the kind of care his/her condition needs regardless of his/her race, creed, color, nationality or status. In doing so, the patient’s care shall be based on needs, the physician’s orders, and the ailment; and shall involve the patient and/or his/her family so that he/she or any of the family can participate in his/her care.
2. The nurse can plan with the patient and family a specific nursing care of the patient according to his or family’s needs and requirements.
3. The nurse should promote learning for the patient.
4. When giving care she should not forget that patients and human beings not just bodies afflicted with illness (treatment of person not symptom).
5. A nurse is expected to show more commission to the patient than the physician.
6. Her primary consideration in assuming care is a concern for the patient’s welfare and safety.
7. A nurse is responsible to give facts or information to the patient and his family which they entitled to know.
8. A nurse guard as a sacred trust any confidential or private information from the patient even after death of the patient except when it is required to show the interest of justice, public health or public safety.
9. Nurses are advised to become familiar with the patient’s bill of rights and observe its provisions.
10. Nurses should commit themselves to the welfare of those entrusted to their care. They should be loyal to their sworn duty.

Responsibilities to the Physician
1. It is expected that nurses will not only carry out doctor’s orders accurately and conscientiously but help plan and implement patient care as well.
2. He/she should call the physician’s attention when he makes mistakes before carrying out his prescriptions otherwise he/she may be liable for the consequences.
3. Nurses must report patient’s condition including results of therapies so that management of care can be properly monitored and modified as necessary.
4. Nurses should familiarize themselves with the various routines, methods or idiosyncrasies of physicians, so that smooth relationships can be maintained. In case the patient has a complaint against the physician, this shall be tactfully brought to the latter’s attention.
5. Any case of illegal, incompetent or unethical practice by any member of the health team shall be brought to the attention of the appropriate authority through channels within the institutional or agency setting.
6. Nurses should remember that any medical act relegated to them is illegal because it is specified in the Medical Law that any licensed nurse who does this, even if supervised, can be held for illegal practice of medicine.

Responsibilities to the Public
1. A nurse should cooperate with the proper authorities in the enforcement of sanitary laws and regulations and in the education of the masses on the p[promotion of individual and community health.
2. takes part in enlightening the public regarding communicable disease (prevention and cure)
3. Must be active in the performance of her duties as a citizen.

Responsibilities to Colleagues
1. Nurses are expected to be able to get along smoothly with their colleagues.
2. Nurses shall adjust themselves to the organization and know its policies and procedures. They shall establish good working relationships with co-workers.
3. It is important that nurses know their place in the total organization so that they may cooperate, coordinate and maximize their work.
4. Situations such as when nurses see their colleagues neglect their duties or are incompetent shall be brought to the attention of the immediate supervisor or appropriate authority within the agency setting before any life could be endangered.
5. Nurses should observe utmost caution, tact and prudence with respect to the official conduct of his/her superiors or another nurse.
6. Should refrain from making unfair and unwarranted criticisms against another nurse or doing anything that would discredit her colleagues.
7. Should not interfere with or take over the nursing care of a patient already under the care of another nurse unless in case of emergency.

Responsibilities to the Profession
1. A nurse should be zealous in her professional growth by keeping abreast with the least trends in nursing science, act and practice (join a bona fide professional organization)
2. Should be upright, diligent, sober, modest and well versed in both science and the act of her profession.
3. Should not solicit patient by any means such as through advertisements, solicitors or agents.
4. Must refrain from performing any act or any transaction that may be a discredit to herself or to the profession and to bring to the attention of proper authorities any unethical conduct of any registered nurse.

Responsibility to Other profession
1. She ought to cooperate in safeguarding the reputation and dignity of the members of other professions.

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