This essay will choose and explore clause 5 from the Code of Professional Conduct (NMC 2002).

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CODE OF CONDUCT

AIM:

This essay will choose and explore clause 5 from the Code of Professional Conduct (NMC 2002). Examples and relevance of the clause to nursing practice and discipline will be based on placement 1 clinical experience. The links between academic and practice will also be structurally discussed; using relevant literature to elaborate points. References will be listed at the end.

Introduction:

Any learned profession is founded on the principle that its members may be relied upon to conduct their work in a manner that will reflect credit on themselves and honour to their profession. Although this principle is universally understood, its importance is, more usually, recognised in cases of professional misconduct. It is therefore necessary that every learned profession should define, and enforce among its members, strict rules of professional conduct. To this end code of professional conduct, as approved by nursing and midwifery council (2002a) is issued to all qualified members of nurse midwife or health visitor. (NMC 2002a clause 1 section 1.1)

Importantly, the protection of clients' rights in care situations is an area of considerable importance within care work; all nurses owe clients a duty of care and are under a legal obligation to ensure that they observe the requirements of the legislation protecting the rights and interests of their clients. Moreover, users of care services have become more aware of their rights over the years and their expectations of care services are now much higher than previously. Clients' right and interests are now protected through care related law such as the data protection act 1984, government charters such as patients' charter, code of practice such as NMC 2002. Hence, the codes as a guiding light developed as evidence based to professionally practice is useful to deal with failure, shape and influence the role of nurses, and learning from the past mistakes which is vital to the success of any code of conduct. (nursing management vol9/ No4/ July 2002)

Nurses are accountable to themselves, although the code can conflict with their own position (Dimond 2002), to nursing professions so as to uphold standard, to the public (protected by criminal law) for an allegation occurrence, and to the employer by contract of employment.

The significance of Code of Conduct should be realised by health staff so as to acknowledge/ be aware that they are accountable for their practice, both to themselves and the public. (Nursing Standard February 19/vol 17/no 23/2003). This is necessary due to the fact that the nursing profession is now more demanding than ever. Today, users of care services have become more aware of their rights over the years and their expectations of care services are now much higher than preciously.
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Oxford Dictionary (1998) define 'accountability' as being able to answer for the standard of care, undertaking and negligence to the allocated professional body whose right is to question/challenge, in obedience to and as stated by Code of Professional Conduct.

Ken worthy et al (1993) through more light on accountability. As one of the key factor supporting professional obligation in clinical care. Nurses might be called during legal matter to give details of her care to patient due to negligence causing damage to a patient. This might require written statement from the nurse that will be looked into; ...

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