Continuing Education Programs

on Ethico-Moral Practice in
Nursing
A. Lobbying/ Advocating for Ethical Issues
Related to Health Care
B. Code of Ethics for Professional Nurses
1. International Code Ethics
2. Code of Ethics for Filipino Nurses
• Registered Nurses and People
• Registered Nurses and Practice
• Registered Nurses and Co-workers
• Registered Nurses and Society and
Environment
• Registered Nurses and the Profession
A. Lobbying / Advocating for
Ethical Issues Related to Health
Care
Definition of Advocacy

 Advocacy means a coordinated combination of problem

identification, solution creation, strategy development,
and actions taken to make positive change.
 In the context of nursing practice, it is a distinction made
between "case advocacy" directed at individual patients,
and "class advocacy" directed at changing policies and
social conditions.
 Case Advocacy
• It is well known to nursing professionals, being part of
the field's traditions and continuing professional values.

 Class Advocacy
• a more overtly political approach, is quite different.
Instead of focusing mainly on the client's opportunity
choices, class advocacy focuses on changing the system
of opportunities itself to further the interests of larger
groups, organizations, or communities.
Example

 A community health nurse doing immunizations at a homeless shelter

encounters a resident with serious environmental health concerns. All
three of the resident's children are asthmatics. From the time the
family was forced to seek residence in the shelter, the children—
particularly the youngest—have had multiple, acute episodes of
asthma. The shelter manager is unwilling to correct the building's
problems of dust, mold, and inadequate heating, and has in fact told
residents that they will be evicted if they complain to the city about the
conditions. There is a waiting list for the shelter, the only one available
within the city limits. The mother sees no way out for herself and her
children. Anxious and distraught, she asks the nurse for help.
 set up an appointment with the mother to explore the situation further and provide support;
 give her "user friendly" information about causes and care measures for asthma, and answer her
questions;
 get more information about the mother's financial status, legal status as a resident, her
relationship with the shelter manager and other residents, and her abilities for decision making
and autonomy;
 get more information about the shelter environment and the timing and intensity of the children's
asthma episodes;
 based on the information discussed, help the client explore other housing options, make her
aware of relevant supports such as legal aid organizations, and assist her in moving toward
decision making to solve the problem;
 provide on-going encouragement as the mother attempts to implement her problem-solving plan.
Basis of Nursing Advocacy:

1. Preserving human dignity

2. Patient equality
3. Freedom from suffering

Nursing Advocacy
- May defend a patient’s rights in a general way by speaking out
against policies or action that might endanger their well-being or conflict
with
rights.
What is Lobbying?

 In the "Principles for the Ethical Conduct of Lobbying"

developed by Georgetown's Woodstock Center: Lobbying
"means the deliberate attempt to influence political decisions
through various forms of advocacy directed at policymakers
on behalf of another person, organization or group."
Lobbyist

 are individuals who communicate and advocate

certain views to members of the government in the
hope of influencing policy at local, state or federal
levels.
Lobbying and Advocacy
Similarities and Differences

 Lobbying usually involves attempting to influence

legislation.
 Advocacy covers a much broader range of activities that
might not include lobbying.
 One way of differentiating between the two terms is to
understand that lobbying always involves advocacy but
advocacy does not necessarily involve lobbying.
Health care lobbyists are employed by:

• Insurance groups
• Drug companies
• Specialty organizations
• Public health groups
• Others who have a stake in health care legislation
 Lobbyists may lobby against certain taxes, such as those on insurance
companies, or encourage funding for programs, such as those that
treat narcotics abusers.

• Sometimes, lobbyists are trying to do more than educate government

officials. Lobbyists also may attempt to delay votes, giving
stakeholders time to bring their own concerns to the table and create
a more complete discussion on the topic.
• In health care, nurses who transition into lobbying are well-placed to
represent and advocate for their patients’ interests because of the
nurses’ intimate knowledge of the field and understanding of the
ways that legislation impacts day-to-day organizational operations.

• Nurses also make good lobbyists because they come from a well-
respected profession. In January 2017, Gallup’s annual poll
ranked nursing as the most trusted profession for the 15th year in a
row. The honesty and ethical standards of nurses were reported as
“high” or “very high” by 84 percent of respondents. Consequently,
nurses’ opinions on the direction of health care in the U.S. can carry a
lot of weight.
Thank you!!!
B. Code of Ethics for Nurses
 ICN Code Of Ethics for Nurses

 An international code of ethics for nurses was first

adopted by the International Council of Nurses
(ICN) in 1953. It has been revised and reaffirmed at
various times since, most recently with this review
and revision completed in 2012.
ICN Code Of Ethics for Nurses

Elements of the Code:

1. Nurses and people

 The nurse’s primary professional responsibility is
to people requiring nursing care.
2. Nurses and practice
 The nurse carries personal responsibility and
accountability for nursing practice, and for
maintaining competence by continual learning.
3. Nurses and the profession
 The nurse assumes the major role in determining and
implementing acceptable standards of clinical nursing
practice, management, research and education
4. Nurses and co-workers
 The nurse sustains a collaborative and respectful
relationship with co-workers in nursing and other
fields.
The Code of Ethics for Filipino Nurses

 What are CODE OF ETHICS?

 These are systematic guides for developing ethical
behavior
 They answer normative questions of what beliefs
and values should be normally accepted
The Code of Ethics for Filipino Nurses

 Article II: REGISTERED NURSES AND PEOPLE

Sec.4 Ethical Principles
a) Values, customs, and spiritual beliefs held by
individuals shall be represented.
b) Individual freedom to make rational and unconstrained
decisions shall be respected.
c) Personal information acquired in the process of giving nursing
care shall be held in strict confidence.
 Article III: REGISTERED NURSES AND
PRACTICE

Sec.6 Ethical Principles

1. Human life is inviolable.
2. Quality and excellence in the care of patients are the goals of nursing
practice.
3. Accurate documentation of actions and outcomes of delivered care is
the hallmark of nursing accountability.
 Article IV: REGISTERED NURSE AND CO-
WORKERS

Sec.12 Ethical Principles

1. The Registered Nurse is in solidarity with other members of the
healthcare team in working for the patients’ best interest.
2. The Registered Nurse maintains collegial and collaborative
working relationship with colleagues and other health care
providers.
 Article V: REGISTERED NURSE, SOCIETY AND
ENVIRONMENT

Sec.14 Ethical Principles

1. The preservation of life, respect for human rights, and
promotion of healthy environment shall be a commitment of a
Registered Nurse.
2. The establishment of linkages with the public in promoting
local, national, and international efforts to meet health and
social needs of the people as a contributing member of society is
a noble concern of a Registered Nurse.
 Article VI: REGISTERED NURSE AND THE PROFESSION

Sec.16 Ethical Principles

1. Maintenance of loyalty to the nursing profession and preservation of its integrity
are ideal.
2. Compliance with the by-laws of the accredited professional organization (PNA)
and other professional organizations of which Registered Nurse is a member is a
lofty duty.
3. Commitment to continual learning and active participation in the development and
growth of the profession are commendable obligations.
4. Contribution to the improvement of the socio-economic conditions and general
welfare of nurses through appropriate legislation is a practice and visionary mission.