Code of Professional Conduct for Nigerian Nurses By NMCN

INTRODUCTION

The Code of Professional Conduct places the client/patient at the center of Nursing activities. The purposes of the Code of Professional Conduct are to: Inform Professional Nurses of the Standards of Professional Conduct required of them in the exercise of their professional accountability and practice. Inform the public, other professions and employers, of the standard of Professional Conduct that they can expect of a Registered Practitioner. A Nurse is a person who has received authorized education, acquired specialized knowledge, skills and attitudes, and is registered and licensed with the Nursing and Midwifery Council to provide promotive, preventive, supportive and restorative care to individuals, families and communities, independently, and in collaboration with other members of the health team. The Nurse must provide care in such a manner as to enhance the integrity of the profession, safeguard the health of the individual client/patient and protect the interest of the society.

THE PROFESSIONAL NURSE AND THE HEALTH CARE CONSUMER

The Nurse must: 1Provide care to all members of the public without prejudice to their age, religion, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender, political inclination, health or social economic status. 2Uphold the health consumer's human rights as provided in the constitution. 3Ensure that the client/patient of legal age of 18 years and above gives informed consent for Nursing intervention. In case the health consumer is under aged, the next of kin or the parents can give the informed consent on his behalf. 4Keep information and records of the client confidential except in consultation with other members of the health team to come up with suitable intervention strategies or in compliance with a court ruling or for protecting the consumer and the public from danger. 5Avoid negligence, malpractice and assault while providing care to the client/patient. 6Relate with a consumer in a professional manner only. 7Not take bribe or gifts that can influence you to give preferential treatment. 8Consider the views, culture and Beliefs of the client/patient and his family in the design and implementation of his care/treatment regimen. 9Know that all clients/patients have a right to receive information about their condition. 10Be sensitive to the needs of clients/patients and respect the wishes of those who refuse or are unable to receive information about their condition. 11Provide information that is accurate, truthful and presented in such a way as to make it easily understood. 12Respect clients and patients' autonomy, their right to decide whether or not to undergo any health care intervention even where a refusal may result in harm or death to themselves or a foetus, unless a court of law orders to the contrary. 13Presume that every patient and client is legally competent unless otherwise assessed by a suitably qualified practitioner. A patient or client who is legally competent can understand and retain treatment information and can use it to make an informed choice. 14Know that the principles of obtaining consent apply equally to those people who have a mental illness. 15Ensure that when clients and patients are detained under statutory powers (e.g. Mental Health Act), you know the circumstances and safeguards needed for providing treatment and care without consent. 16Provide care in emergencies where treatment is necessary to preserve life without clients/patients consent, if they are unable to give it, provided that you can demonstrate that you are acting in their best interests.

THE PROFESSIONAL NURSE AND THE NURSING PROFESSION

The Nurse must: 1Attend workshops, conferences, seminars and courses that are recognized by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and which are relevant to the profession, at least, once a year. 2Engage in behaviour and activities that uplift the social status and integrity of Nurses 3Always appear Neat and decently dressed, without using bogus/dangling earrings, long and big wigs (all hair do must not extend below the neck level), high heeled shoes, long painted nails and bogus make up while on duty and in uniform. 4Not fight or steal. 5Be courteous, honest and resourceful. 6Not wear Uniforms and Overall outside the hospital premises. 7Not strap babies/children on her back while in Uniform. 8Provide care, using current evidence based principles and practice and the Nursing Process. 9Participate in the training of Student Nurses/Midwives and Students of health related disciplines. 10Co-operates and collaborates with Professional Associations to secure good Conditions of Service. 11Demonstrate skills and abilities required for lawful, safe and effective Professional practice without direct supervision.

THE PROFESSIONAL NURSE AND NURSING PRACTICE

The Nurse must: 1Be 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. 2Be punctual to duty and hand over, patients and equipment physically after duty. 3Switch off her telephone/handsets when providing care to clients/patients and when teaching in the classroom. 4Avoid the use of self in the advertisement, promotion or sale of commercial products, services and illicit trade such as trafficking in hard drugs. 5Reject any form of gift, favour or gratification which might appear to have undue influence or advantage towards obtaining preferential treatment. 6While providing care, ensure that use of technology and scientific advance are compatible with the safety, dignity and rights of clients/patients.

PROFESSIONAL NURSE AND PROFESSIONAL COLLEAGUES

The Nurse must: 1Work cooperatively and collaboratively with Professional Colleagues and other members of the health team for ethical procedure ONLY. 2Exhibit 'Espirit de corps' in all situations except when it involves fraudulent and unethical practices. 3Delegate functions and responsibilities to subordinates according to their abilities and competencies, supervising them accordingly. 4Not 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: 1Protect the public against danger or harmful agents 2Have regard to the environment of care and its physical, psychological and social effects on the client/patient. 3Access 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. 4Contribute to policy making.

THE PROFESSIONAL NURSE AND THE GLOBAL HEALTH ORGANIZATION

The Nurse must: 1Implement 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. 2Participate 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 .