5 Things Nurses must know about Code of Ethics

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They work hard to heal the wounds and give a soothing touch to the patients to relieve their pain. But, it’s also true that nurses face ethical challenges every day. In this context, it’s necessary for them to understand the revised Code of Ethics for Nurses well. It’s a professional responsibility to know about their ethical obligations and accountability that would come their way. Here are five changes that matter the most for them.

1. Compassion and Respect: The Nurses are the first point contact for the patients. They know the pulse of the patients and their requirements better. It’s very essential for them not to lose cool and treat the patients with compassion. They can act tough when the situation demands, but without being abusive. The nurses and other health professionals may not make derogatory remarks about the patients or their families, which would vitiate the atmosphere and demoralize the patients.

2. Commitment to the Patient: It is important for the nurses to be involved in supporting patients in making decisions and helping them in resolving their queries. It is very much necessary for the nurses to read the mood of the patients and serve them in a much better way. Their commitment should be towards their profession and patients’ interests first.

3. Protect the Patient’s Rights: The Nurses must promote and protect the patients’ health, safety and rights without any bias. They must exercise restraint not to sneak a peak at high profile patients’ medical records.

4. Fixing Accountability: The Nurses have the authority and responsibility for nursing practice. They must assess the situation and bring it to the notice of the physician or manager when any patient is too sick to go home and need further care at the hospital or care clinic only. They will have to fix the accountability for themselves in such cases.

5. Supporting Social Justice: Nurses deal with social justice issues every day, in every role. Nurses need to think about their responsibilities related to mental health of people, ending discrimination and fighting sex trafficking. They need to be updated about social issues so that they can discharge their duties and contribute their bit when the time comes.

What is a Certified
Registered Nurse Anesthetist?

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A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, or CRNA, is a medical professional who is one of the most advanced practicing and highest paid positions within the nursing profession. A CRNA administers anesthesia during surgical procedures when an anesthesiologist, a doctor, is unavailable at the moment. However, according to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, a CRNA is actually a historic nursing profession dating back to the time of the American Civil War. These nurses were the actual pioneers of anesthesiology and were called upon during a time when the practice was in its infancy but war brought on a seemingly never-ending need to help ease the pain of wounded soldiers and surgery patients in the field as well as behind the lines medical facilities.

CRNAs Work As Team Members
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, or CRNAs, are some of the most advanced and highest paid of all nurses. CRNAs administer anesthesia during surgery, when an anesthesiologist physician is not available to do so. In fact, CRNAs actually predate anesthesiologists (physicians who administer anesthesiology). According to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA), CRNAs are “pioneers in the field of anesthesiology,” having come into existence during the civil war in the 1800s, when anesthesia itself was new, and was utilized to ease pain for soldiers and surgical patients.
CRNAs often work as part of a team with anesthesiologists. CRNAs enable more surgeries to be completed, with fewer anesthesiologists on staff. Depending on state regulations and the bylaws of the employing facility, CRNAs may be supervised by an anesthesiologist or work independently. Although CRNAs are very well-paid compared to other nurses, they are much more cost-effective for hospitals than employing multiple anesthesiologists. Therefore, CRNAs enjoy excellent job stability and high demand for their services, and it is highly unlikely that CRNAs would ever be entirely replaced by anesthesiologists.

CRNA Work Environments Are Typically Hospital-Oriented
Most CRNAs are employed by hospitals, and work in a surgical environment, such as an operating room. CRNAs also may work in outpatient surgery centers and medical offices. According to the American Nurses Association, CRNAs are responsible for delivering over 65% of all anesthetics administered to patients in the US. There are over 30,000 CRNAs practicing in the US, and just over half of them are men, based on information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the ANA.

CRNA Job Responsibilities are the Same as Physician Anesthesiologists
CRNAs function much like anesthesiologists (physicians who specialize in the administration of anesthesia and pain management). CRNAs are responsible for pre- and post-operative care as it relates to the delivery of anesthesia. A CRNA does a pre-op assessment of the patient, administers the anesthesia during the surgery, brings the patient back out of anesthesia, and then follows up to ensure the patient’s recovery from the anesthesia. According to the AANA, during surgery, the CRNA monitors the patient’s vital signs and adjusts the level of anesthesia accordingly, while coordinating with the surgical team.

Training and Education – How to Become a CRNA
CRNAs are one type of many Advanced Practice Nurses (APN). Therefore they must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing or other applicable field, and be a licensed RN by passing the NCLEX-RN, the national licensing exam. Once licensed as an RN, one must have at least one year of nursing experience before gaining admission into a graduate nurse anesthetist graduate program, according to the AANA. Most nurse anesthetist graduate programs take two or three years to complete. After completing the graduate education, one must pass the national certification exam in order to practice legally as a CRNA.

CRNAs Make Good Money
According to the AANA, the average salary for CRNAs is $160,000 annually. The 2011 MGMA compensation report found that the median 2010 income for CRNAs was $151,139. The money is great. CRNAs can earn more than many primary care physicians, with a fraction of the education and training required. The job growth outlook is excellent. Employing CRNAs is very cost-effective for hospitals (anesthesiologists earn 2-3 times or more than CRNAs). Therefore, the demand for CRNAs is only going to increase.

So, What’s The Negative Scoop?
The responsibility is great for CRNAs, so it can be stressful. Also, depending on the size of the anesthesiology staff, the on-call schedule can affect your quality of life. However, individuals receive the training and have the necessary experience that enables them to adjust well to the demands of this exceptional nursing occupation that leads to a rewarding career and comfortable personal life.

What is the NCLEX?

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Getting an RN to BSN education is a worthy accomplishment indicating an individual has spent a great deal of time and effort to earn the degree, However, if a student has yet to qualify as a Registered Nurse (RN), taking the >National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX, is necessary for obtaining license to work. Every state has a board of nursing that sets the standards for the test determining if any candidate is prepared sufficiently to begin a career at an entry level.

Examination Eligibility
Every applicant for a nursing license needs to apply for the NCLEX through the local nursing board in the state of residence. The board determines if an applicant has the necessary credentials to sit for the test. Once determine, an applicant needs to register to take the exam.

NCLEX Test Content
There are several separate subjects each NCLEX test taker will be quizzed about including:

  • Maintaining a safe and effective environment through following effective infection control, safety and care management procedures
  • Understanding patient health maintenance and promotion through knowledge of human growth and development coupled with the early detection and prevention of disease
  • Ability to cope and adapt in an ongoing psychosocial setting maintain professional integrity
  • Understanding and ability to provide basic care and comfort, pharmacological therapies, risk potential reductions and additional physiological adaptions

NCLEX Registration
After a student has applied f to take the NCLEX exam, an Examination Candidate Bulletin will be sent through the U.S. mail from the local state board of nursing. Now the applicant can register to take the exam with the designated testing service assigned by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Registration can be conducted through filling out a mail-in form or by telephone. Once registered, exam candidates receive an Authorization to Take the Test, ATT, as soon as the local state board of nursing has verified the applicant’s eligibility to sit for the NCLEX. Al list of testing centers is provided for choosing one convenient to the candidate’s needs.

Test Format
This is a multiple-choice test that uses an interactive computer-based methodology known as Computerized Adaptive Testing, or CAT. All RN candidates have to answer a minimum of 75 questions and complete the test within five hours. The time allotted includes the necessary time for computer use tutorial as well as two assigned 10-minute breaks. Scores will be first generated by the testing computer and then verified by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing’s testing service. If a test taker is obviously well above the standard set, the test taker will pass. If below the standard, the test taker has failed. If the test taking is so close the computer cannot determine pass or fail, additional questions will be given so the system can make a final analysis. A maximum of 265 questions may be taken by RN candidates.

What Happens if a Candidate Fails the NCLEX?
Do not worry if taking the NCLEX results in failing the test. There will be other opportunities to be re-tested. Plus, all candidates failing the test receive a diagnosis profile indicating the extent of knowledge revealed in areas that were satisfactory and in those areas where the level of knowledge was not. Tests can be re-taken as many times as needed, but a 91-day waiting period must be met between testing dates. Check with the local state board of nursing for additional limitations, if applicable