LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF

NURSES
 The word "law" may be defined
as a rule of conduct pronounced by
controlling authority, which may be
enforced. There are three essential
characteristics of every law. The first
one is the authority or the right to
declare the rule exists. The second is
that such rule is pronounced or
expressed and that its source can be
identified. Lastly, a right to enforce the
same must be provided.

Nursing Jurisprudence
 Department of law which
comprises all legal rules and principles
effecting the practice of nursing
 Includes the study and
interpretation of rules and principles
and their application in the regulation of the practice of nursing.

Sources of Nursing Jurisprudence in the Philippines

The sources are the following:
 The Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, particularly the Bill of Rights
 Republic Act No. 9173 otherwise known as the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002.
 Rules and regulations promulgated by the Board of Nursing and/or Professional
Regulation Commission pertaining to nursing practice.
 Decisions of the Board of Nursing and/or Professional Regulation Commission on
nursing cases.
 Decisions of the Supreme Court on matters relevant to nursing.
 Opinions of the Secretary of Justice in like cases.
 The Revised Penal Code.
 The New Civil Code of the Philippines.
  The Revised Rule of Courts.
 The National Internal Revenue Code as amended

Function of Law in Nursing

 Provides a framework for establishing what nursing actions in the care of patients are
legal
 Delineates the nurse’s responsibilities from those of other professionals
 Helps to establish the boundaries of independent nursing actions
 Assists in maintaining a standard of nursing practice by making nurses accountable to
the law

To prevent the legal issues, it is very necessary for nurses to follow some
responsibilities.

The main areas to prevent legal issues are:

Legal responsibility of a nurse during admission and discharge of Medico Legal Case (MLC)
While providing nursing care in any medico legal case nurse must take care of following thigs:

 After receiving the patient from OPD to ward, immediately inform the doctor on duty of
that unit.
 All the records of patient like OPD slip, admission slip, admission files must be kept
under lock and key to prevent legal issues.
 It is nurse responsibility not to show the patients records to anybody.
 It is nurse responsibility not to show or hand over to any police personnel.
 It is also a nurse responsibility not to throw any discharge of patient without the
permission of physician.
 Nurse should keep the belonging of the patient in her custody.
 Take consent of relative or patient for any kind of procedure or treatment.
 Avoid answering enquirers to an insurance agent.
 The condition of patient should be reported verbally to relatives.
 Maintain all records of the patient accurately

Responsibility of nurse during the discharge of patient

 On discharge, no record should be handed over to the police by nurse.

 Entered clearly, if patient is transferred to another ward or hospital.
 Before allowing the patient to leave the hospital, nurse should clearly enter or write the
name of relatives of the patient.
  It is nurse responsibility to keep all the records concerning to patient under lock and key
after discharge of the patient.

In case of death of the patient

After death of the patient, if patient is medico legal nurse must get written instruction from the
medical officer for handing over the body of the person to mortuary/police officer.

 Note complete name and address of patient.

 Note identification number.
 Signature of witness.
 Note list of belongings of the patients.
 Maintain privacy and give full respect to dead body.

Legal responsibility of a nurse in Admission and Discharge of mentally ill patients

 As per Indian Mental Health Act 1987 major patient (mental ill) gets admitted on a
voluntary adult basis.
 After admission, nurse should check the application form for admission is accompanied
by report of two medical officers out of which one should be government doctor.

Responsibilities during discharge of mentally ill persons

 Check the signature of patient or relative after discharge of the patient.

 Note permanent and correspondence address of patient.

Responsibilities of a nurse in case of absconding of patient

 Check  the number of patients admitted with actual number of patients present in the
ward while handing over and taking over charges from one nurse to another.
 Inform immediately to in-charge of the unit and keep the record of patient under lock and
key.

Responsibilities of a nurse during examination of a female patient

 It is nurses responsibility to maintain the privacy of female patient during the

examination.
 Nurse must present during the examination.
 Little exposure of patient is to be made.
 Protect the right of the patient during examination of female patients.
 It is nurse responsibility to discourage if repeated examination of breast/perineal part by
the male doctor.

Legal responsibilities of a nurse while administrating medication

 Keep in mind 12R while administering medication.

 Follow only written order of physician.
 Strict monitoring of medicines especially one which change the chemistry of blood.
 Medicine containers must be properly labelled.
Legal Responsibilities during sterilization and abortion
For permanent sterilization, it is essential to

 Get informed consent signed by both (husband and wife).

 Eugenic sterilization to prevent procreation of unfit such as mentally retarded, mentally
ill, habitual criminal and sexual deviates is prescribed in some part of the world. But each
case is taken independently.

Legal responsibilities of a nurse during organ transplant

As a nurse, she should be aware that an uninformed donor prepared under sedation for removal
of any part is criminal in the court of law. So it is nurse's responsibility to get the consent signed
by relatives as per the desire of the deceased.

OTHER LAWS AFFECTING NURSING

PROFESSION AND THE NURSES
A. Magna Carta for Health Workers

Magna Carta for Public Health Workers (RA 7305) approved March 1992. This
law extended additional benefits to public health workers amounting to P662
Million in 1993.

B. Labor Code

The Labor Code of the Philippines stands as the law governing employment
practices and labor relations in the Philippines. ... It prohibits termination from
employment of Private employees except for just or authorized causes as
prescribed in Article 282 to 284 of the Code.

C. Rooming In and Breastfeeding Act

 This Act shall be known as "The Rooming-In and Breast-feeding Act of 1992" AN
ACT PROVIDING INCENTIVES TO ALL GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE
HEALTH INSTITUTIONS WITH ROOMING-IN AND BREAST-FEEDING
PRACTICES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES . SEC. ... - The State adopts
rooming-in as a national policy to encourage, protect and support the practice of
breastfeeding.

D. Milk Code

The Milk Code or Executive Order 51, signed by then president Corazon Aquino
in 1986, is the law that protects and promotes breastfeeding in the Philippines. It
regulates the industry of formula milk and other milk products.

E. Senior Citizen Act

RA 7432, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "AN ACT TO MAXIMIZE THE

CONTRIBUTION OF SENIOR CITIZENS TO NATION BUILDING, GRANT
BENEFITS AND SPECIAL PRIVILEGES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Section 1. This Act shall be known as the "Expanded Senior Citizens Act of
2003." Privileges for the Senior Citizens.

F. Sexual Harassment

RA 7877 “ AN ACT DECLARING SEXUAL HARASSMENT UNLAWFUL IN THE

EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION OR TRAINING ENVIRONMENT, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES ”. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: SECTION 1. Title. -
This Act shall be known as the "Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995."

G. Clean Air Act

Republic Act No. 8749, otherwise known as the Philippine Clean Air Act, is a
comprehensive air quality management policy and program which aims to
achieve and maintain healthy air for all Filipinos.

H. Local Government Code

 In 1991, Republic act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code
was enacted into law, transferring control and responsibility of delivering basic
services to the hands of local government units (LGU). Public health service was
one of the national functions devolved to local government units.

I. Dangerous Drug Act

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9165 AN ACT INSTITUTING THE COMPREHENSIVE

DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT OF 2002, REPEALING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6425,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT OF 1972, AS
AMENDED, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

MALPRACTICE AND NEGLIGENCE ACT

Professional Negligence

What is Negligence?

Negligence – refers to the omission or commission of an act pursuant to a duty, that a

reasonably prudent person in the same or similar circumstance would or would not do, and
acting or non – acting of which the proximate cause of injury to another person or his property.

Elements of Professional Negligence:

 Existence of duty

 Failure to meet the standard

  Foreseeability of harm resulting from failure to meet the standard.

 The breach resulted in an injury to the plaintiff.

Civil Code of The Philippines

1. Article 19

“ One shall act with justice, give every man his due, observe honesty and good faith”

2. Article 20

“ Those who, in performance of their obligations through negligence cause any injury to another,
are liable for damages”

Common acts of negligence:

 Objects left inside the patient body during operation.

 Burns resulting from hot water bag.

Evidence

 Res Ipsa Loquitor

 The thing speaks for itself.

 No further proof is required.

 The injury could not happened if someone was not negligent

 Incident Report

Three Conditions to Establish Defendants Negligence:

1. That the injury was of such nature that it would not normally occur unless there was a
negligent act on the part of someone.

2. That the injury was caused by an agency within control of the defendant

3. That the plaintiff himself did not engage in any manner that would tend to bring about the
injury.
Legal Defense of Negligence:

 Nurses know and attain the standard of care

 Nurses documented the care they render in a concise and accurate manner

Malpractice

- Implies the idea of improper or unskillful care of a patient by a nurse. Denotes

stepping beyond one’s authority with serious consequences

Eg. Giving an anesthesia by a nurse or prescribing medicine

Doctrine under Legal Aspects of Nursing:

Doctrine of Force Majeure

- act of God

- means irresistible force, one that is unforeseen or inevitable.

- nurse is not held responsible

Doctrine of Respondeat Superior

- Let the master answer for the acts of the subordinate.

- Liability is expanded not a shift of liability.

- This doctrine applies only to those actions performed by the employee within the scope
of his employment.

- Therefore, when a person, through his negligence, injures another, he remains fully
responsible.

Incompetence
 - is the lack of ability, or legal qualifications and being unfit to discharge the
required duty.

Penalty:

- revocation or suspension of her certificate of registration.

Liability of Nurses for the Work of Nursing Aides:

 Nurses are enjoined to supervise their subordinates and see to it that they perform only
those which they have been taught to do and capable of doing.

 Nurses should not delegate their function to nursing aide.

Liability for the Work of Nursing Students:

 Both CI and Staff nurse should coordinate in assessing the competence of nursing
students before they are allowed to give care to patient so that the risk of injury to the
same will be avoided.

Charting done by Nursing Students:

 CI countersigns the charting of the nursing students.

 Anyone who affix their signature without verification commits herself to possible legal
risks.

Medical orders

Drugs

Medications

Intravenous

Telephone orders
 CONTRACTS/WILLS/TESTAMENTS

WHAT IS A CONTRACT?

 Is a meeting of minds between two persons where they bind themselves to give
something or to render some services.
  Practically anything could be subjected to a contract as long as these are not contrary to
law, morals, good customs, public order and public policy.

Kinds of Contracts

1. Formal Contracts - refers to an agreement b/w parties and is required to be in writing.

E.g. marriage contracts

2. Informal Contracts - one in which concluded as the result of a written document where the
law does not require the same to be in writing.

3. Express Contracts - The one in which the conditions and terms of contract are given orally or
in writing by the parties concerned. E.g. PDN under the doctrine of “facio ut des” means I do
that you may give.

4. Implied Contracts - one that is concluded as a result of acts of conduct of the parties to which
the law ascribes an objective intentions to enter into a contract.

5. Void contracts - one that is inexistent from the very beginning and therefore may not be
enforced.

6. Illegal contracts - one that is expressly prohibited by law

Example of Illegal Contracts:

 Consent obtained by fraud

 Those obtained under duress

 Those obtained under undue influence

 Those obtained through material misrepresentation

NURSES AND WILLS

WILLS

 legal declaration of a person’s intentions upon death.

 Called a testamentary document because it takes effect after the death of its
maker.

 An act whereby a person is permitted with the formalities prescribed by law, to

control a certain degree the deposition of his estate, to take effect after death.

Decedent – a person whose property is transmitted through succession whether or not he left a
will

Testator – a person who left a will.

Testatrix – a woman who is making a will

Heir – a person called to succession either by the provision of a will or by operation of law

Testate – a person who dies leaving a will

Intestate – a person who died without leaving a will

Probate – validation of a will in court

Administrator – one who administers the provision of the will

Estate – the interest a person has in lands or in any other subject to property

Attestation Clause- means the clause wherein the witness certifies that the instrument has been
executed before them, and the manner of the same.

TYPES OF WILLS

1. Holographic will – a will is written, dated and signed by the testator.

2. Nuncupative will or Nuncupation - an oral will.

WHO CAN MAKE A WILL?

 Sound mind
  Eighteen years old & above

 Not prohibited by law

The Nurses obligation in the Execution of a Will:

 Note the soundness of the pt’s mind

 Ensure there was freedom from fraud or under influence

 The pt should be above 18 years of age

 Note the will was signed by the testator and that the witnesses signed the will in the
presence of the testator

 For protection, the nurse must make a notation on the patient’s chart

ADVANCE CARE DIRECTIVE

 a document written or completed by the client and used by a facility or hospital to

provide care at a time when client cannot make his own decision

SUBJECTS:

1. Show risk for early dementia

2. Show risk for stroke

3. Activities- severe head injuries

4. Severe and recurring psychiatric illness

5. Terminally ill

Characteristics of Advance Directives:

 Allows clients to participate in choosing health care providers

 Allows also in choosing the type of medical treatment the client desires.

 Allows clients to consent or refuse treatments

TYPES:

1. INSTRUCTIVE DIRECTIVE - specifies life-sustaining treatment to be withheld or withdrawn.

LIVING WILL - legal document stating person does not wish to have extraordinary life saving
measures when not able to make decisions about his own care.

- applicable for life saving treatment only.

Example: DNR

2. PROXY OR DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY

- legal document giving designated person authority to make health care decisions on
the client’s behalf when the client is unable to do so.
 LEGAL PROTECTION IN THE NURSING
SERVICE

Consent to Medical and Surgical Procedure:

Consent

- is defined as a free and rational act that presupposes knowledge of the thing to
which consent is being given by a person who is legally capable to give consent.

TYPES OF CONSENT

1. General consent

- this consent is usually secures by the nurse from the patient upon admission.

- this consent is usually for diagnostic procedures and initial treatment deemed
necessary by the medical staff.

2. Informed Consent

- used for special and invasive procedure./

Essential Elements of Informed Consent:

  The diagnosis and explanation of the condition.

 A fair explanation of the procedures to be done and used and the consequences.

 A description of alternative treatments or procedures.

 A description of the benefit to be expected.

 Material rights if any

 The prognosis, if the recommended care, procedure, is refused.

Proof of Consent:

 Signed written consent to show that the procedure is the one consented to.

 Patient understanding on the nature of the procedure, the risk involved and the
possible consequences.

Who Must Consent?

 ordinarily the patient

 minor and mentally ill, the parents or legal guardian

 emergency situation, no consent is necessary, if inaction can cause greater

injury.

Refusal to Consent:

 mentally competent individual has the right to refuse, no matter how necessary is
the procedure.

Consent for Hospitalization:

Sterilization – is the termination of the ability to produce spring, the husband and wife must
consent.
Exception:

- if the sterilization is an incidental result such as in cases of abruption placentae,

ectopic pregnancy and ruptured uterus, the patient’s consent alone is sufficient.

Importance of Medical Records:

 Value of medical records is both scientific and legal.

 It serves as record of illness and treatment.

 It supplies materials for medical and nursing research.

 It serves as legal protection for the hospital, doctor and nurses by reflecting the
disease, condition and management done to the patient.

*Rule to remember “If it was not charted, it was not observed of done”

Medical Records in Legal Proceedings:

- This give important evidence in legal proceedings such as:

1. police investigations

2. Determining cause of death

3. Extent of injury incurred by the patient

Medical Record Librarian – by the virtue of a subpoena duces tecum, testifies in court.

*only complete accurate records are accepted in court.

Legal Risks for Defective Equipment:

- one important duty of the nurse is to make sure that the equipment used in procedures
and treatment is not defective.

Eg. Wheelchairs, stretchers, suction machines, anesthesia apparatus, x-ray tables etc.

TORTS
  is a legal wrong, committed against a person or property independent of a
contract which renders a person who commits it liable for damages in a civil
action.

 the plaintiff seeks compensation for the injury or wrong he has suffered from the
wrong doer.

Examples of Torts:

1. Assault and Battery

Assault – is the imminent threat of harmful or offensive bodily contact.

Battery – is an intentional, unconsented touching of another person.

- if consent has not been secured, the person performing the procedure maybe liable for
battery.

Assault and Battery

*if the patient who gets injured while being restrained may cause the attendant or the nurse to
be liable.

2. False imprisonment or Illegal Detention

- means the unjustifiable detention of a person without a legal warrant within boundaries
fixed by the defendant by an act or violation of duty intended to result in such
confinement.

Variations:

- for patient with communicable disease, the hospital is not liable for false imprisonment
if they will be isolated because of the condition.

Home Against Medical Advice (HAMA)

  patients insisting on leaving the hospital cannot be detained.

 notation in their chart should be made and a release form should be signed by
the patient or his guardian.

3. Invasion of Right to Privacy and Breach of Confidentiality

 nurses may become held liable for invasion of right to privacy if they divulge
information from a patient’s chart to improper sources or unauthorized persons.

*Data Privacy Act of 2017

Example:

When a nurse permits a non-professional person to view a woman in labor inside the delivery
room.

Publication of picture of a malformed baby without the consent of the parents.

4. Defamation

Slander – is oral defamation of person by speaking unprivileged or false words by which his
reputation is damaged.

Libel – is defamation by written words

*exchange of remarks of two persons does not constitute defamation.

*there must be a third person who hears or reads the comment before it can be considered
defamation.

Crimes, Misdemeanors and Felonies

Crime

- is defined as act committed or omitted in violation of the law.

- punishable by Revised Penal Code.

2 Elements of Criminal Offenses:

  Criminal act – deal with act or offenses against public welfare.

 Evil/criminal intent – is the state of mind of a person at the time the criminal act is
committed, that is, he/she knows that an act is not lawful and decided to do it
anyway.

Conspiracy to commit a crime – exists when two or more persons agree to commit a felony and
decide to do it.

Persons who commit Felonies:

1. Principals – those who take a direct part in the execution of the act; who directly force or
induce others to commit it and those who cooperate in the commission of the offense by another
act.

2. Accomplices – are those persons who, not being principals, cooperate in the execution of the
offense by previous ot simultaneous act.

- the person to be held liable must have a knowledge of the criminal intention of the
principals.

3. Accessories – are those who, having knowledge of the commission of the crime either as
principals or accomplices.

Eg.

Destroying the body of the crime

Assisting in the escape of the principal of the crime

Misdemeanor

- is a general name for a criminal offense which does not in law amount to felony.

Penalty:

- Fine or imprisonment for a term of less than one year.

Criminal Negligence Classified into:

1. Reckless imprudence – when a person does an act or fails to do it voluntarily but without
malice, from which material damage results immediately.

2. Simple imprudence – means that the nurse did not use precaution and the damage was not
immediate or the impending danger was not evident or manifest.

Felony – is committed with deceit and fault.

Deceit – exist when the act is performed with deliberate intent.

Fault – when the wrongful acts result from imprudence, negligence, or lack of skill or
foresight.

Classes of Felonies:

1. According to the degree of the acts of execution:

a. Consummated – when all the elements necessary for its execution and
accomplishment are present.

b. Frustrated – when the offender performs all the acts or execution which will produce
the felony as a consequence but which nevertheless, do not produce it by reason of
causes independent of the will of the perpetrator.

c. Attempted – when the offender commences the commission of the same directly by
overt acts, and does not perform all the acts or execution which shall produce the felony.

2. According to Degree of Punishment:

a. Grave felonies – are those to which the law attaches the capital punishment(death) or
penalties which in any of their periods are afflictive (imprisonment or a fine).

b. Less grave felonies – are those which the law punishes with penalties which in their
maximum period are correctional(imprisonment and a fine).

c. Light felonies – are punishable only when they have been consummated, with the
exception of those committed against a person or property.

Circumstances Affecting Criminal Liability:

 3. Justifying Circumstances – a person may not incur criminal liability and civil
liability under some circumstances.

Ex.

Any person who acts in the fulfilment of a duty or in the lawful exercise or right of office
shall not also incur any criminal liability where such acts result in the commission of a crime.
When a nurse is under an order from his/her superior, he/she shall be to discern whether the
order is lawful or not, because if such order will result in the commission of a crime, he/she shall
be criminally liable.

4. Exempting Circumstances – there are certain circumstances under which the law
exempts a person from criminal liability for the commission of a crime.

5. Mitigating Circumstances – are those which do not constitute justification or

excuse of the offense in question, but which, in fairness and mercy, may be
considered as extenuating or reducing the degree of moral culpability.

6. Aggravating Circumstances – are those attending the commission of a crime and

which increase the criminal liability of the offender or make his guilt more severe.

7. Alternative Circumstances – are those which must be taken into consideration as

aggravating or mitigating according to the nature and effects of the crime and
other conditions attending its commission.

These are the relationship, intoxication and degree of instruction and education of the
offender.

Moral Turpitude

 is an act of baseness, vileness or depravity in social or private duties which a

man owes to his fellow man or to society in general, an act contrary to the
accepted and customary rule of right and duty between men.

Murder
  is the unlawful killing of a human being with intent to kill. It is a very serious
crime.

 Nurses should keep in mind that death resulting from a criminal abortion is
murder.

 Euthanasia is also considered murder.

Homicide

 is the killing of a human being by another. It maybe committed without criminal

intent, by any person who kills another, other than his father, mother, or child or
any of his ascendants or descendants, or his spouse, without any of the
circumstances attendant the crime of murder enumerated above being present.

Abortion

 means the expulsion of the product of conception before the age of viability. In
law, any person who, with the intention of prematurely ending a pregnancy,
wilfully and unlawfully does any act to cause the same is guilty of procuring
abortion.

 The constitution of the Philippines protects the life of the unborn from
conception(Art. II Sec. 15).

 In the United States legal abortion is practiced under certain conditions, but not in
the Philippines which considered abortion as illegal.

Infanticide

 is the killing of a child less than 3 days of age. The mothers who commits this
crime shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment.

Parricide

 is a crime committed by one who kills his/her father, mother or child whether
legitimate or illegitimate, or any of his/her ascendants or descendants or his/her
spouse.
  a person who is convicted of this crime shall be imposed a penalty of from life
imprisonment to death.

Robbery

 is a crime against a person or property. The taking of personal property of

another person from him or in his presence constitutes robbery.

Ex.

When the nurse takes the patient’s cash or jewelry while the latter is sleeping.

Simulations of Birth

 is a crime committed by one who enters in a birth certificate a birth that did not
occur.

 it is a crime against the civil status of a person.

 Substitutions of a child for another or concealing or abandoning any legitimate

child with the intent to cause such child to lose his/her civil status shall be
punishable for simulation of birth by imprisonment and fine.

Pointers to avoid Criminal Liability:

 Be very familiar with the Philippine Nursing Law

 Be aware of laws that affect nursing practice

 At the start of employment, get a copy of your job description, the agency’s rules,
regulations and policies.

 Upgrade your skills and competence

 Accept only such responsibility that is within the scope of your employment and your job
description.

 Do not delegate your responsibility to others.

  Determine whether your subordinates are competent in the work you are assigning
them.

 Develop good interpersonal relationships with your co – workers, whether they be your
supervisors, peers or subordinates.

 Consult your superiors for problems that may be too big for you to handle.

 Verify orders that are not clear to you or those that seem to be erroneous.

 The doctors should be informed about the patient’s conditions.

 Keep in mind the value and necessity of keeping accurate and adequate records.

 Patients are entitled to an informed consent.

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL

ASPECTS OF NURSING
Personal Professional Development

 Personal and professional development is often also called continuous

professional development (CPD).
 CPD is the purposeful maintenance and improvement of a professional’s
 knowledge and skills to remain competent in their chosen profession for the
benefit of themselves, their patients or clients and the wider profession.
  CPD is recognized as a commitment to being professional, keeping up to date
and continuously seeking to improve.

Personal Professional Development

 CPD is intended to encourage the development of professionals so that they
reflect on their practice and its quality, are able to adopt and assess new
approaches to their practice and develop better ways of working as a result.
 CPD acknowledges varying learning styles among professionals and includes a
wide range of formal and informal learning activities.

The key principles behind CPD are that it:

 Is self-directed
 Is based on learning needs identified by the individual
 Builds on an individual’s existing knowledge and experience
 Links an individual’s learning to their practice
 Includes an evaluation of the individual’s development

Why is Personal Professional Development Necessary?

 CPD is a critical mechanism in ensuring that all members of the nursing
professions are able to deliver high quality nursing care and services and keep
pace with health care developments that affect their practice.
 The knowledge needed to function effectively as a professional nurse continues
to expand and change while consumer demand and expectations continue to
increase.
 Therefore, as registered health practitioners, nurses have a professional
obligation to maintain their competence and to aim for continuous improvement
in the standard of service they provide.
 Professional and personal development is quite simply a means of supporting
people in the workplace to understand more about the environment in which they
work, the job they do and how to do it better.
 It is an ongoing process throughout our working lives.

Professional and personal development provide;

  A means whereby we can keep in sync the changes, broaden our skills and
become more effective in our work.
 It can be a part of an individual’s personal ambition to be a better practitioner,
enhance his/her career prospects or to simply feel more confident about their
work and make it more personally fulfilling. It can be a step on the ladder to
higher qualifications or enhanced job prospects or be required by professional
bodies to maintain professional status.
 It can be part of meeting targets set by workforce performance management
schemes or an opportunity for individuals to change their career paths.

POSITIVE IMAGING OF A PROFESSIONAL NURSE:

1. Self Assessment/ Self Evaluation

 Is a process of looking at oneself in order to assess aspects that are important to

one’s Identity.
 Is a way process in which you learn more about yourself.
 Is a way in which self esteem/confidence can be enhanced.
 First part of career management process

2. Self Awareness

 is having a clear perception of your personality, including strengths, weaknesses,

thoughts, beliefs, motivation, and emotions.

Being self aware is knowing:

 What you want in your life

 Your strengths and weaknesses
 What motivates you and  makes you happy
 What you want to change about yourself or about your life
 Your philosophy in life
  Your achievements so far
 How you relate to others
 You need to improve as a person
 Your most important beliefs and values
 How you see yourself as a person  

How to develop Self Awareness?

 Adhering to good values

 Using self-help books
 Having a life coach

Johari Window
 Is a simple and useful tool for illustrating and improving self awareness, and
mutual understanding between individuals within a group.
 Named after the first names of it’s inventors Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham

Consist of 4 quadrants:
1. Open area
 known by the person ('the self') and known by the group ('others').

2. Blind area
 known about a person by others in the group, but is unknown by the
person him/herself.

3. Hidden area
 known to ourselves but kept hidden from, and therefore unknown, to
others.

4. Unknown area
 contains information, feelings, latent abilities, aptitudes, experiences etc,
that are unknown to the person him/herself and unknown to others in the
group.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF BEGINNING NURSE PRACTITIONER

 Dr. Patricia Benner introduced the concept that expert nurses develop
skills and understanding of patient care over time through a sound
educational base as wel l as a multitude of experiences.

Beginner with no experience:

 Taught general rules to help perform tasks.

 Recogn ized as being taskoriented and focused.
 Rules are: context-free, independent of specific cases, and applied
universally.
 Rule-governed behavior is limited and i nflexible.

Advanced Beginner:
  Demonstrates acceptable independent performance.
 Has gained prior experience in actual situations to recognize recurring
meaningful components.
 Principles, base d on experiences, begin to be formulated to guide actions.

Competent:

 Typically a nurse with 2-3 years experience on the job in the same area or in si
milar day-to-day situations.
 More aware of long-term goals.
 Gains perspective fr om planning own actions based on conscious, abstract, and
analytical thinking an d helps to achieve greater efficiency and organization.
 Perceives and understands situations as a whole rather than as series of tasks.
 More holistic understanding improves decision-making.
 Learns from experiences wh at to expect in certain situations and how to modify
plans.
 No longer relies on principles, rules, or guidelines to connect situations and
determine actions.
 Much more background of experience;
 Has intuitive grasp of cli nical situations;
 Performance is now fluid, flexible, and highlyproficient.

Advanced practice registered nurses who have received special courses and training:

 She is skilled at making nursing assessments, performing P. E., counseli ng,

teaching and treating minor and self- limiting illness.
 Taking detailed medical histories and performing complete physical exams.
 Providing diagnoses and recommending treatment plans.
 Treating common medical conditio ns, illnesses, and injuries.
 Prescribing limited medications.
 Counseling patient s and families.
CAREER PLANNING


 The career planning and development process provides a guide to help you to
achi eve your dreams and to create new possibilities as you build your nursing
career .
 Career is what we choose as our profession, our path, or our life’s work. You ch
ose your path when you accepted admission into your nursing program, and your
nu rsing career began the day you attended your school of nursing orientation.

BEGINNING A JOB SEARCH

 1st Step: Scanning your Environment

 2nd Step: Your Self-assessment and Reality Check
  3rd Step: Creating your Career Vision
 4th Step: Creating your Strategic Career Plan
 5th Step: Marketing Yourself

Scanning your Environment

 It is simply taking a good look around to determine how the world around you can
help you to both develop and achieve your career goals.
 Scanning the environment, together with knowledge of strengths and interests
you have developed to date in your nursing program, offers you information
about potential nursing practice opportunities.

Creating your Career Vision

 It requires that you take the knowledge and skills you have developed in creatin g
learning plans and client care plans and apply it to your nursing career. The main
difference is that you are doing this for yourself- not to fulfill course r
equirements, client needs, or the expectations of others. It is your action guide
that is unique and personal.

Marketing Yourself

 It is being able to communicate your strengths, interests and goals with

confidence and clarity.
 It is much easier when your approach genuinely reflects your values, your
communication style, and is true to your abilities. The interview pro cess is a
significant marketing strategy as well.
Sources Job Leads

 Employment Development Department.

 Civil Service Announcements
 Trade Associations
 Trade Publications
 Newspaper Advertisements
 Local Newspaper
 Friends
 Canvassing
 School Placement Services

How to Prepare an Effective Resume

I. Resume Essentials
 Before you write, take time to do a self-assessment on paper. Outline your skills and
abilities as well as your work experience and extracurricular activities.
 This will make it easier to prepare a thorough resume.

II. The Content of Your Resume

 Name, address, telephone, e-mail address, web site address
 All your contact information should go at the top of your resume.
o Avoid nicknames.
o Use a permanent address.
o Use your parents' address, a friend's address, or the address you plan to use
after graduation.
o Use a permanent telephone number and include the area code. If you have an
answering machine, record a neutral greeting.
o Add your e-mail address. Many employers will find it useful. (Note: Choose an e-
mail address that sounds professional.)
o Include your web site address only if the web page reflects your professional
ambitions.
Objective or Summary
An objective tells potential employers the sort of work you're hoping to do.
 Be specific about the job you want. For example: To obtain an entry-level
position within a financial institution requiring strong analytical and
organizational skills.
 Tailor your objective to each employer you target/every job you seek.

Education
 New graduates without a lot of work experience should list their educational
information first.
 Your most recent educational information is listed first.
 Include your degree (B.S.N., M.A.N., etc.), major, institution attended,
minor/concentration.
 Add your grade point average (GPA) if it is higher than 3.0.
 Mention academic honors.
 List relevant coursework.
 Describe your Independent Study.
 If you studied away from campus, add it to this section.

Experience
 Briefly give the employer an overview of work and any other experiences (volunteer,
committee membership, etc.) that has taught you skills. Use action words to describe
what you did. Include your experience in reverse chronological order—that is, put your
last experience first and work backward to your first, relevant job. Include:
o Title of position.
o Name of organization.
o Location of work (town, state.)
o Dates of employment.
o Describe your responsibilities with emphasis on specific skills and
achievements.
Other Information
 A staff member at your career services office can advise you on other information to add
to your resume. You may want to add:
 o Key or special skills or competencies.
o Leadership experience in volunteer organizations.
o Participation in sports.

References
 Ask people if they are willing to serve as references before you give their names to a
potential employer.
 Do not include your reference information on your resume.
 You may note at the bottom of your resume: "References furnished on request."

III. Resume Checkup

 You've written your resume. It's time to have it reviewed and critiqued by a career
advisor.
 You can also take the following steps to ensure quality:
Content
o Run a spell check on your computer before anyone sees your resume.
o Get a friend (an English major would do nicely) to do a grammar review.
o Ask another friend to proofread.
o The more people who see your resume, the more likely that misspelled words
and awkward phrases will be seen (and corrected).
Design
These tips will make your resume easier to read and/or scan:
* Use white or off-white paper.
* Use 8-1/2- x 11-inch paper.
* Print on one side of the paper.
* Use a font size of 10 to 14 points.
* Use non-decorative typefaces.
* Choose one typeface and stick to it.
* Avoid italics, script, and underlined words.
* Do not use horizontal or vertical lines, graphics, or shading.
* Do not fold or staple your resume.
* If you must mail your resume, put it in a large envelope.
What do Employers Look For?

THE ENTIRE PACKAGE:

 What do employers want to see when they begin evaluating college candidates for
employment?
 The entire package! Extracted from responses to the question, “What are the five most
important skills or competencies that a candidate needs to possess in order to be
considered for employment?”, the “total package” includes these skills:
 The Total Package: Candidates need to be academically prepared in their discipline as it
pertains to their employment – this is considered a given by employers. Plus,
 Communication skills (228 comments) that demonstrate solid verbal, written and
listening abilities. The capstone is presentation skills that include the ability to
respond to questions and serious critique of the presentation material.
 Computer/technical aptitudes (124 comments) based on the level required for
the position being filled. Computer ability is now perceived as a given core skill,
right up there with reading, writing and mathematics. The ability levels
(expectations) for computer knowledge and application continue to rise.
 Leadership (82 comments) – the ability to take charge or relinquish control
(followership) according to the needs of the organization; closely aligned with
possessing management abilities.
 Teamwork (70 comments) – working cooperatively and collaboratively with
different people while maintaining autonomous control over some assignments.
 Interpersonal abilities (80 comments) that allow a person to relate to others,
inspire others to participate or mitigate conflict between coworkers.
 Personal traits. The shape of the above competencies are molded by a
combination of personal traits, specifically demonstrate initiative and motivation;
flexible/adaptable to handle change and ambiguity; hard-working (work ethic)
and reliability; honesty and integrity; and ability to plan and organize multiple
tasks. Emerging as a key personal trait is an individual’s ability to provide
“customer service” – anticipating customer
needs and the demeanor to respond positively to customer concerns.
The Wrapping: Several skills or experiences bind the package and are essential to
holding it together. Without these skills, a candidate may not b able to deliver the
package.
 Critical thinking/problem solving – the ability to identify problems and their
solutions by integrating information from a variety of sources and effectively
weigh alternatives.
 Intelligence and common sense.
 Willingness to learn quickly and continuously.
 Work-related experiences that provide an understanding of the workplace and
serve to apply classroom learning.
 This list should be no surprise to anyone – these skills and competencies have been
bantered about since the new economy began to emerge in the late 1980s. Why this
section needs our attention is the context in which many employers expressed their
qualifications.
 Because the economy is moving so quickly, candidates must enter their position already
demonstrating their command of these competencies.
 There is neither time nor the luxury of training a highly qualified academic candidate in
these skills.
 Employers demand that the “total package” be delivered at graduation.

HOW TO WRITE AN ELECTRONIC RESUME

LEARN TO THINK NOUNS, NOT VERBS

 Action words such as accelerated, arbitrated and launched are out.
 In scannable resumes, nouns are dominant. Computers search for descriptive words
such as accounting, manager, Price Waterhouse.

USE LABELS OR KEYWORDS

 Keywords are an extension of the noun concept and are also called buzzwords or
descriptors.
 Keywords are words employers search for when trying to fill a position. They are the
essential characteristics required to do the job: education, experience, skills, knowledge
and abilities.
  The more keyword marketing points you present about yourself, the more likely you are
to be chosen from an electronic resume database now or in a year from now.

LESS IS MORE
 Avoid decorative or uncommon typefaces.
 Don't underline.
 Steer away from italics.
 Stick to white or beige paper, if you are producing a scannable resume.

KEEP THE DESIGN SIMPLE

 Avoid graphics and shading -- the equipment is set to read "text" not "graphics."
 If you use complex tables with leader dots (...), computers may trip over them.

MINIMIZE USE OF ABBREVIATIONS

 Except the more common ones like BA (Bachelor of Arts).
 Do, however, maximize the use of industry jargon.
PUT NAME FIRST AND CONTACT INFORMATION ON SEPARATE LINE
USE WHITE SPACE
 Computers like white space.
 They use it to recognize that one topic has ended and another has begun.

USE COMMON LANGUAGE

 Not all systems have a full-fledged synonym table so try to maximize the "hits" between
a position search and your resume by using words everyone knows.

A ONE PAGE RESUME IS STILL THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER LENGTH

 How to Write Cover Letters.
 The preliminary application for a professional position generally consists of two
documents: a cover letter and a resume.
 The cover letter allows you to tailor your application to each specific job and introduces
your resume.
 Your resume gives more complete details about your education and experiences.
  Effective cover letters are constructed with close attention to: Purpose, Audience,
Content, and Format.

Purpose
 Your cover letter and resume usually provide all the information which a prospective
employer will use to decide whether or not you will reach the next phase in the
application process: the interview.
 While your goal is an interview and, ultimately, a job offer, the more immediate purpose
of your cover letter, in some cases, may simply be to gain an attentive audience for your
resume.

Audience
 A cover letter provides, in a very real sense, an opportunity to let your prospective
employer hear your voice.
 It reflects your personality, your attention to detail, your communication skills, your
enthusiasm, your intellect, and your specific interest in the company to which you are
sending the letter.
 Therefore, cover letters should be tailored to each specific company to which you are
applying.
 You should conduct enough research to know the interests, needs, values, and goals of
each company, and your letters should reflect that knowledge.

Content
 A cover letter should be addressed to the specific company and the specific individual
who will process your application.
 You can usually find this through research or simply by calling the company to find out to
whom you should address your letter.
 The letter should name the position for which you are applying and also make specific
references to the company.
 Indicate your knowledge of and interest in the work the company is currently doing, and
your qualification for the position. You want the reader to know:
* why you want to work at that specific company
* why you fit with that company
* how you qualify for the position
  In addition to tailoring your application to a specific job with a specific company, the
cover letter should also
* highlight the most important and relevant accomplishments, skills, and
experience listed in your resume
* point to the resume in some way (“as detailed in the enclosed resume")
* request specific follow up, such as an interview

Format
 A cover letter should be in paragraph form (save bulleted lists for your resume) with a
conversational, though formal, tone.
 The first paragraph should be brief, perhaps two or three sentences, stating
* what job you are applying for and how you learned about it
* any personal contacts you have in or with the company
* your general qualifications for the job
 The body of your letter should consist of one to three longer paragraphs in which you
expand upon your qualifications for the position.
 Pick out the most relevant qualifications listed in your resume and discuss them in detail,
demonstrating how your background and experience qualify you for the job.
 Be as specific as possible, and refer the reader to your resume for additional details.
 The concluding paragraph of your letter should request an interview (or some other
response, as appropriate).
 State where and when you can be reached, and express your willingness to come to an
interview or supply further information.
 Close by thanking your reader for his or her time and consideration.

TRACKING A JOB LEADS

Below are seven steps you can take to organize and track your leads effectively.

 Evaluate & Select Lead Tracking Options.

 Create Marketing Codes to Track Lead Sources.
 Set Up Your System & Test It. .
 Roll Out Your Lead Tracking System.
 Input & Assign Leads.
 Nurture Your Leads & Track Activities.
  Prioritize Your Leads.

How should you dress for a job interview?

 What dressing for success will mean for you will depends on the industry to work in.
You’ll be dressing differently to interview in the advertising industry than you would for
an interview in the financial services sector. It’s best to find out about the dress code
(you can ask your recruiter or HR) prior to the interview, so that you fit in with the
organization.

 You should also make sure you have at least two professional interview outfits. You’ll
need more than that if you get the job but depending on your current financial situation,
two is enough to get through the interview process. You can buy more once you have
the job or have more financial resources.

Expert Tips for Looking the Part at a Job Interview

 Dress for the industry. You won't wear the same outfit to a job interview at an ad agency
as you would a law office.

 Wear something that makes you feel comfortable; discomfort will show during your job
interview

 Have clean and trimmed fingernails

 Use minimal cologne or perfume

 Be sure to have fresh breath

 Take care not to have body odor

 Never interview with gum or candy in your mouth

Dress for Success: Women

  For a job interview in most industries, a classic power pantsuit or skirt suit or a work
dress are always strong choices.

 Wear something you feel comfortable in - if you never wear suits, don’t wear one to the
job interview as if you don’t feel confident in your outfit, it will show.

 It goes without saying that the skirt shouldn’t be too short and you shouldn’t show too
much cleavage. It’s absolutely fine to show off your personality through what you’re
wearing, as long as you’re not wearing a fluorescent pink mini skirt! Stick to business-
professional looks.

Dress for Success: Men

 If you need to dress formally, you can’t go wrong wearing a gray or navy two-piece
business suit, a shirt and a silk tie that matches the colors in your suit.

 If the company is a bit more informal, you could wear smart dark jeans or dark trousers
and a jacket.

 Your belt should always match your shoes.

 Avoid garish patterns on ties that can distract an interviewer.

Dress for Success: Accessories

 Keep jewelry minimal – either wear small delicate pieces or wear one larger piece, such
as a statement necklace, but nothing else.

 When it comes to shoes for women, make sure they are comfortable and that you can
walk. If you’re wearing heels, the safest bet is closed-toe pumps. Make sure your shoes
are polished.

 Men’s shoes should be brown or black. Avoid mixing black shoes and a brown suit and
vice versa.

Dress for Success: Hair & Makeup

 Well-groomed hair is important. Before your interview, check that your hair is combed
properly.
  Don’t use too much makeup. Subtle makeup that enhances your features is best here.

Dress for Success: Final tips

 Be aware of your posture and body language. Good posture and a solid handshake is
important, as is making eye contact and smiling.

 It’s important to dress appropriately. Taking care with your appearance shows that
you’re taking the opportunity seriously and that you’re eager to make a good
impression. Think about what you’re going to wear to the interview the day before so that
you have time to make sure everything is clean and pressed.

 Get everything ready the night before. Lay out your clothes and accessories so that
there is no last-minute panic about your outfit. You want to feel great when you meet your
potential new employer and looking good is a big part of that!
 How to answer interview questions

 Speak clearly and vary your tone to show you're interested and enthusiastic.
 Take time to think about each question before answering so you can give a
good response.
 Listen to questions carefully and let the interviewer lead the conversation.
How to Resign as a Nurse?

 Step 1 – Control Your Emotions. It's not easy to leave a job – especially a nursing
position, which can feel like both a labor of love and a calling.
 Step 2 – Consult with Management.
 Step 3 – Give Notice and Date of Departure.
 Step 4 – Follow-Up with a Written Resignation Letter.
EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES

The traditional hospital setting shows the levels of nursing hierarchy are established. The
hierarch is shown below:

Director

of nursing
Managers

Staff Nurses

But since the mid-1980’s, this trend changed, there are fewer managers and additional clinical bedside
nurse.

Certification

It is the process by which a nongovernmental agency of association certifies that an

individual licensed to practice a profession has met certain predetermined standards
specified by that profession for practice.

Fields of Specialization

 Critical care nurses are responsible for giving one-on-one care to critically ill
patients and their families. Their work life tends to be complex and intense,
requiring a high level of vigilance and advocacy.
 Cardiac nurses help patients who have heart problems. They have advanced
knowledge about how the heart works and how specialized treatment is given
to a client, such as transplantation, heart pumps, and mechanical-assist
devices.
 Medical/surgical nurses stay at the cutting edge of complex care and
treatment for patients who have a serious illness and aid them in the
transitions from surgery to recovery to full health.
 Oncology nurses help patients who have or are at risk for cancer. They
administer health care, and educate and counsel people about screening,
prevention, and detection.
 Orthopedic nurses specialize in treating musculoskeletal issues in patients.
They work in a wide variety of settings and help with education, treatment, and
rehabilitation.
 Primary care nurses provide the first line of contact for patients with the
 Rehabilitation nurses assist patients recovering from an illness to full health through
the process of rehabilitation. They provide healthcare, prevent complications, advocate,
manage cases, counsel, and educate.
 Addiction nurses work with patients suffering from addictions like alcoholism or drug
abuse. They help with detoxification, therapy, monitoring, and assessment. They help
patients improve their mental health, behavior, and relationships.
 Perioperative nurses help patients before, during, and after they undergo surgery.
They assist doctors during surgery and advocate for the patient throughout the surgery
process.
 Correctional nurses provide treatment for inmates in jails and prisons. They serve as
primary clinical care providers, but have specialized knowledge of how to deal with
dangerous patients or those suffering from issues related to prison life.
 Emergency nurses quickly assess and treat severely ill patients in a stressful
emergency room setting where every second counts. They have a broad range of
knowledge and can think/act quickly on their feet.
 Geriatric nurses provide medical assistance for the elderly. They specialize in issues of
aging and end-of-life, and serve as advocates for elderly people and their families. This
is currently a high-demand specialty area, as much of the U.S. population is aging.
 Occupational health nurses help treat and prevent job-related illnesses and injuries.
They help businesses and other places of employment maintain satisfactory levels of
health and safety in the workplace.
 Hospice nurses focus on end-of-life care for terminally ill patients, usually in a home
environment. They help the dying and their families come to terms with the illness, treat
symptoms, and provide the best medical treatment possible for a specific individual.
 Nephrology nurses treat people with kidney problems, particularly kidney disease
stemming from hypertension, substance abuse, or diabetes. They are educated in the
diagnosis, treatment, and education of these issues.
 Neonatal nurses work with mothers and their newborn babies from the time they are
born up until 28 days of age. They have specialized knowledge about how to care for
new mothers and newborn infants.
 Pediatric nurses specialize in providing medical treatment to children and adolescents.
They understand how to talk with, relate to, and help this age group, and deal with the
health problems and illnesses related to them.
  Respiratory nurses help people with breathing problems like asthma, cystic fibrosis, or
tuberculosis. They are trained in how to diagnose problems, provide palliative treatment,
and reduce pain and breathing difficulties.
 School nurses help students learn by promoting health and safety in the school and
home environments. They provide health services, coordinate school health programs,
treat students, and educate school populations about wellness issues.

Expanded Roles of Nurses

“The functions of a nurse that are not specified in the traditional limits of nursing practice
legislation.”

1. Advanced practice nurses

“Advanced practice nurses must be master’s or doctorally prepared. Critical reflective thinking,
self-directed learning, and leadership skills are mandated expectations for health-care providers
in the 21st century.”-American Association of Colleges of Nursing

 Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurse Specialist:

Certification: Enterostomal therapy nursing education program (ETNEP) changed to be a
bachelor’s degree with a major in nursing
Aside from ostomies, the nurses could include skin care, management of draining
wounds and fistulas, pressure sores, and incontinence.

 Flight Nursing-
nurses who are riding in helicopters and other air transportation which is called an air
ambulance.
Certification: Pediatric advanced life support (PALS), Advanced cardiac life support
(ACLS), neonatal resuscitation program (NPR), strong Emergency Room background
There is the need for technical skills to practice flight nursing, such as patient intubation,
EKG interpretation, intravenous and chest tube insertion, medication administration, etc.

 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist-

 It is an advanced practice nurse specialty requiring the graduate to obtain a master’s
degree.
Certification: Bachelor’s of science in nursing and at least 1 year of acute care nursing
The CRNA needs to take care of the patient’s anesthesia needs before, during and after
surgery or other procedures alone or in conjunction with other health care professionals.
 Certified Nurse-Midwife
Certification: there are more than 40 basic nurse-midwifery educational programs, most
offering master’s degree while some with a certificate
They are allowed to practice in a variety of settings including, hospitals, homes and
birthing centers providing care for women throughout the childbearing cycle as well as
postpartum.

 Clinical Nurse Specialist-

Educators first developed the CNS role because of their concern for improving nursing
care.
Certification: Registered nurses with advanced nursing degrees, master’s degree or
doctorate, who are experts in a specialized area of clinical practice.
They are primarily hospital based, practicing in secondary and tertiary care inpatient
settings and serving as a consultant in addressing issues in patient care and health care
systems.
Essential CNS competencies:
 developing an in-depth knowledge base
 demonstrating clinical expertise in a selected area of clinical practice
 serving as a role model
 serving as a practitioner/teacher, consultant, teacher

 Nurse Practioner
an advanced practice nurse who has education beyond the bachelor’s degree in clinical
specialty area strongly focused on primary care, though some subspecialties are
hospital based.
Certification: They have received specialized training (most often at the master’s level) in
diagnosing and treating illnesses and providing health care maintenance.
They have been legally and financially dependent on physicians for their jobs but some
work independently.
 2. Nurse Educator
Professional Roles of Nurse Educator
 Education
 Clinical Supervision
 Role model and mentor
 Continuing education
 Research

3. Nurse Researcher
 The nurse researcher investigates problems to improve nursing and further define and
expand the cope of nursing practice.
 The nurse researcher may be employed in an academic setting, hospital or an
independent professional or community service agency.
 The nurse researcher assists with collecting data in the field of health and medical care.
 The nurse may review the data and provide information on the results.
 The researcher plays a significant role in helping doctors and scientists understand the
complications of medical conditions.

4. Nurse Authors
Their goals are to:
 Promote literary excellence in nursing;
 Encourage authorship and writing for, by and about nurses and nursing
experiences;
 Educate patients and nurses through fiction and nonfiction; and
 Support and encourage other nurse authors and those who want to write
BALANCING PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL NEEDS

Health is a complex and dynamic state of being. A healthy person must balance various
aspects in life to achieve and maintain good health. When one area of life is affected, general
health, is also affected. Health has been divided into the following elements: physical health,
intellectual health, emotional health, professional health, social health and spiritual health.

Physical Health

 Nutrition

Maintaining good nutrition is often a difficult task. Finding the time and motivation
to eat a nutritious diet in our fast-paced world is not easy, but it is when we eat properly,
then we will feel better and perform tasks at a higher level.

 Benefits of Exercise

Following nutritional guidelines is not enough to maintain physical health. Daily

exercise is another essential ingredient for healthy living. Exercise provides many
benefits such as improving cardiovascular function by lowering cholesterol and blood
pressure and strengthening heart muscle. It can boost the immune response to disease.

 Sleep
It is not uncommon for nurses to sleep less than eight hours per night. Nurses
who work nights may find it especially difficult to sleep for an uninterrupted block of time.
Nurses who are constantly changing shifts are more susceptible to sleep deprivation.
Physicians, family members and critically ill patients place heavy demands on nurses.
Intellectual Health

 Intellectual Acuity

It is important to find some activity outside nursing that is of interest. Like

shopping, reading, painting, photography, and so on. Developing a new hobby to keep
your mind sharp by staying abreast of developments within your interest area.

 Personal Financial Planning

Identify your annual salary then identify how many percent of your salary you
want to save for the future. Saving up for a home, your children’s education and even
retirement (Social security, Employee retirement funds, etc.)

Emotional Health

Our emotions express how we are feeling about an event. Our challenge as a human
being is to acknowledge the emotion and then respond appropriately. It is important to have
balance between our thought processes and the emotion we are feeling. Controlling our anger
and learn to laugh is a way for us to have a good emotional health.

Social Health

Relationships give meaning to our lives. The essence of social health is interacting with
other people. We strive toward harmony in all relationships. It is human nature to seek out
others and grow in relationships.

Spiritual Health

Spiritual health is to find strength within. The strength results from a connection with a
higher being or power. It is through our spirituality that we find meaning in life.
Ways to Maintain Professional Health

 Seek out others within the health care field.

 Find a more experienced nurse you can relate to or who can act as a mentor, who can
provide guidance and support when problems arise.
 Keep in touch with other nurses because you can learn things from them.
 Read as often as possible because learning is unending.
Occupational Hazards Common among Nurses

The major infectious agents are HIV, herpes, tuberculosis and hepatitis. Needle-stick
injuries account for about 80-90% of the transmission of infectious diseases among health care
workers.

The importance of a good environment for the workplace is vital because it can lead to
health problems if there is a failure of having a healthy environment.