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Contemporary Issues Project Quality nursing depends on many different factors. In this paper I would like to discuss the Quality Nursing Care Act of 2005 H. R. 1372. The main goal of this act is to impose staffing ratios in Medicare participating hospitals. The main goal of this paper is to analyze the Quality Nursing Care Act and compare it with the ethical and legislative responsibilities of working nurses. I want to compose it in exactly this way because this act is tightly connected with the nurse ethic.
I will touch only the most important points of this legislative act. In a fact Ill analyze those points, which concerns nurse caring. The decision to impose the nurse staff was taken under the influence of Congress findings. Among them were the following ones: States that have inadequate staffing of registered nurses to protect the well-being and health of the patients and that the health of patients in hospitals is directly proportionate to the number of registered nurses working in the hospital. (H.
R. 1372: Quality Nursing Care Act of 2005. May 17, 2005) I think that this is clearly understandable that level and quality of caring in Medicare participating hospitals strongly depends on staff number and quality. Governmental research in the field of Medicare also shows critical shortage of registered nurses. This and that fact that such shortage of qualified staff leads to the crisis in the sphere of public health set government thinking.
Some people states that the quality of public health care becomes worth, which in turn leads to increasing of consumers interest to private health care and limits the government income from health care sphere. According to the Quality Nursing Care Act As a payer for inpatient and outpatient hospital services for individuals entitled to benefits under the program established under title XVIII of the Social Security Act, the Federal Government has a compelling interest in promoting the safety of such individuals by requiring any hospital participating in such program to establish minimum safe staffing levels for registered nurses (H. R. 1372: Quality Nursing Care Act of 2005. May 17, 2005) As the result of Federal interest to the problem of proper nurse caring in public health care institutions Quality Nursing Care Act of 2005 H. R. 1372 was adopted. As for me I think that Federal intrusion in the Medicare sphere is more than opportune step for improving public health care system.
According to the Quality Nursing Care Act of 2005 H. R. 1372 Each participating hospital shall adopt and implement a staffing system that ensures a number of registered nurses on each shift and in each unit of the hospital to ensure appropriate staffing levels for patient care. This from one side strictly framed the intricate staff system in Medicare participating hospitals and some people may dislike such innovations but from other side it is well thought-out decision, which will (and now is) bring positive result. In what way? Ill try to explain it from my point of view. This Act ensures that each kind of service you receive in Medicare participating hospitals will be properly served.
People must be sure that they can get high-qualified help in the sphere of public health care. This act demands to put patients needs on the first place and make them feel that nursing staff really cares for them. Account for contextual issues affecting staffing and the delivery of care, including architecture and geography of the environment and available technology reflect the level of preparation and experience of those providing care (H. R. 1372: Quality Nursing Care Act of 2005. May 17, 2005) Such act is necessary and useful way to improve health care system but the question is how it can be applied on practice? And this is the point where legal responsibilities and ethical dilemmas of nurse care come to view.
How can be both legal and ethical dilemmas combined into one working process? Every profession has some ethical code it suggests that it is capable for self-regulation of its members. Professional ethic demonstrates that both public and government can trust people from this professional community. Professional ethic in nurse caring is based on the set of living, dynamic standards of nurses professional moral behavior.
Ethic of professional nurse caring includes both legal responsibilities and moral dilemmas because legal responsibilities must be well applied to the hospital practice, which nurses face everyday. Lets oversee American Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Nurses (July, 2001) and compare it with the points from Quality Nursing Care Act of 2005 H. R. 1372. The nurse participates in establishing, maintaining, and improving healthcare environments and conditions of employment conducive to the provision of quality care health and consistent with the values of the profession through individual and collective action.
The nurse participates in the advancement of the profession through contributions to practice, education, administration, and knowledge development. (American Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Nurses (July, 2001) Quality Nursing Care Act of 2005 H. R. 1372. implies health care based on the number of patients, variability of intensity of care, patient condition and level of necessary preparation. It is required to post the staffing system and the current number of RNs. As for me I think that such innovations are only for better because it demands the system to be in perfect order. Also I want to underline the requirement of strict registration for unlicensed staff members directly responsible for patient care in each unit.
I think that it will lower the level of professional negligence, which still takes place in professional practice. The acts states A participating hospital shall not discriminate or retaliate in any manner against any patient or employee of the hospital because that patient or employee, or any other person, has presented a grievance or complaint, or has initiated or cooperated in any investigation or proceeding of any kind, relating to the staffing system or other requirements and prohibitions of this section. (H. R. 1372: Quality Nursing Care Act of 2005. May 17, 2005) I think that for a well-qualified nurse it is not an obligating point because nurse cares for patient with respect, compassion and dignity and it doesnt depend on patients social or economic status, nature of health problems and personal attributes.
But sometimes happens that nurse have some prejudices against that or this patient. I think that such person cannot be a nurse because if you devote your life to health caring you must forget all prejudices and help people. The act states that patient who has been discriminated may initiate judicial action. I think that it is a point worth thinking for many unprincipled nurses. The act also defines the term register nurse as a person who have a license to practice as registered nurse in at least on State and I found this definition important.
In understand that each unit must be accomplished with well-qualified staff but all this lose meaning if the staff itself is not qualified enough. Propensity to economy often leads to hiring of unlicensed staff, which in turn leads to lowering of health care. Nurse is more than just a profession it is a vocation and implies suitable level of skills and knowledge. (American Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Nurses (July, 2001) states, The nurse collaborates with other health professionals and the public in promoting community, national, and international efforts to meet health needs. The profession of nursing, as represented by associations and their members, is responsible for articulating nursing values, for maintaining the integrity of the profession and its practice, and for shaping social policy. The nurse owes the same duties to self as to others, including the responsibility to preserve integrity and safety, to maintain competence, and to continue personal and professional growth.
Considering this I think that Quality Nursing Care Act of 2005 H. R. 1372 will and is well applied to the practice in hospitals. There are no divergences between the act and nurse professional ethic. More than that it only strengthen the positions stated in Code of Ethics for Nurses. Bibliography: 109 th Congress (March 17, 2005), H. R. 1372: Quality Nursing Care Act of 2005.
Retrieved February 18, 2006 from web American Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Nurses (July, 2001). 2005. Retrieved February 18, 2006 from web Catherine A. G. Sparkman (October, 2005).
Focus on health care delivery, quality, and nursing. AORN Journal. Retrieved February 18, 2006 from web
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Research essay sample on American Nurses Association Public Health Care
