Why Nursing Education Needs to Focus on Ethics and Professionalism

Nurses are vital to our healthcare system, and as such, it is essential for them to be properly trained in the field of ethics and professionalism. These two areas are very important in ensuring that nurses provide quality patient care and adhere to the codes of ethical practice and standards of professional conduct. This article focuses on how nursing education needs to focus on ethics and professionalism so that nurses can become effective, compassionate, and reliable providers of care. Ethics and professionalism in nursing have been established as fundamental components of professional practice. The American Nurses Association (ANA) defines professional nursing practice as “the use of current knowledge, skills, and judgment to meet the health needs of individuals, families, groups, and communities”. This definition highlights the importance of ethics and professionalism in the delivery of care. Nursing education must include the teaching of ethical principles, such as respect for individual autonomy, truth-telling, justice, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and confidentiality. By understanding these principles, nurses are enabled to act in a professional manner, providing the best quality of care to their patients. In addition, nursing education should also focus on developing the professionalism of students. Professionalism involves demonstrating courteous, open and honest communication, building relationships with patients, colleagues, and other healthcare professionals, exhibiting traits such as reliability, trustworthiness, integrity and being committed to providing the best possible care. Professionalism also involves recognizing and adhering to the standards of practice as established by the nursing profession and organizations such as the American Nurses Association (ANA), and being continuously aware of the need to develop and stay up to date with professional knowledge. Developing ethical and professional practices in nursing requires both classroom and clinical instruction. Students need to be exposed to real-life scenarios and taught in an academic setting about the ethics of care and the professional aspects of the nursing profession. They should be taught the principles of critical thinking, problem solving and decision making. Additionally, students should be provided with simulations and role-play situations where they can practice their professional behavior and patient care skills. Finally, it is essential for nursing educators to promote professional development and provide continual learning experiences to students. They should equip students with knowledge and tools to develop an understanding of ethical issues and professional responsibilities in their practice. Through these initiatives, students can further develop the skills and abilities to ensure they meet ethical standards and develop their professional identity. In conclusion, the importance of ethics and professionalism in the nursing profession cannot be overstated. Nursing education should focus on providing students with the proper training, knowledge, and skills that will enable them to effectively and compassionately deliver care to their patients. By focusing on ethics and professionalism, nursing education can ensure that nurses are prepared to provide care in the most ethical and professional way possible.