THE PROFESSIONAL NURSE AND NURSING PRACTICE
The Nurse must:
- Be personally accountable for the care that she provides to clients/patient This means that she is answerable for her actions and omissions regardless of advice or directives from other health professionals.
- Be punctual to duty and hand over, patients and equipment physically after duty.
- Switch off her telephone/handsets when providing care to clients/patients and when teaching in the classroom.
- Avoid the use of self in the advertisement, promotion or sale of commercial products, services and illicit trade such as trafficking in hard drugs.
- Reject any form of gift, favour or gratification which might appear to have undue influence or advantage towards obtaining preferential treatment.
PROFESSIONAL NURSE AND PROFESSIONAL COLLEAGUES
The Nurse must:
- Work cooperatively and collaboratively with Professional Colleagues and other members of the health team for ethical procedure ONLY.
- Exhibit 'Espirit de corps' in all situations except when it involves fraudulent and unethical practices.
- Delegate functions and responsibilities to subordinates according to their abilities and competencies, supervising them accordingly.
- Not ridicule Professional Colleagues and especially NOT in the presence of Clients/Patients or other members of the health team.
THE PROFESSIONAL NURSE AND THE PUBLIC
The Nurse must:
- Protect the public against danger or harmful agents
- Have regard to the environment of care and its physical, psychological and social effects on the client/patient.
- Access the adequacy of resources and make known to appropriate persons and authorities, any circumstances which could place clients/patients in jeopardy or which militate against safe standards of practice.
- Contribute to policy making.
THE PROFESSIONAL NURSE AND THE GLOBAL HEALTH ORGANIZATION
The Nurse must:
- Implement global health initiatives and instruments to which the country, the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NAMMN) are signatory.
- Participate actively in International and National Conferences and Conventions and contribute her quota to the development of Nursing Sciences.
CONCLUSION
The Code of Professional Conduct highlighted in this document is intended to empower the Professional Nurse Practitioner to provide effective care to individuals, families and communities. The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria subscribes to the fact that Nursing is an inalienable right of citizens and as such the professional Nurse has the responsibilities of assisting them to attain the optimal level of health. The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria believes that this Code of Professional Conduct will serve as a springboard for providing effective NURSING Care in Nigeria.