PPN101 Week 11 2025 Professionalism Part 1

Professionalism - PPN101 Week 11 (2025)

Objectives

  • Examine personal, professional, and socio-cultural values:

    • Understanding how personal values influence patient care.

    • Examples of conflicts between personal values and client/institution values.

  • Professional Accountability:

    • Discuss the significance and implications of accountability in nursing practice.

  • Roles and Responsibilities of Nursing Organizations:

    • Legal versus voluntary membership of key organizations:

    • College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO)

    • Ontario Nurses Association (ONA)

    • Canadian Nurses Association (CNA)

    • Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN)

    • International Council of Nurses (ICN)

    • Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO)

    • Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI)

  • Principles of Nursing Codes:

    • CNO Code of Conduct.

    • CNA Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses.

  • Entry to Practice Competencies:

    • Overview of competencies for Registered Nurses (RNs) and the NCLEX exam for professional licensing.

  • Negligence and Duty of Care:

    • Definitions and implications of these concepts in nursing practice.

  • Legal System Components:

    • Overview of Statute Law (RHPSLAA) and Tort Law (intentional/unintentional).

  • CNO Reporting Requirements:

    • Under the Regulated Health Professions Act and other legislation.

  • Privacy Acts:

    • Discuss Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) and Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and their effects on nursing practice.

Values and Beliefs

  • Personal Reflection:

    • Awareness of personal values and beliefs, especially when they conflict with those of clients or institutions.

    • Reflective questions to consider:

    • Can you think of examples of value conflicts in nursing?

    • Have you experienced this as a student? What were the outcomes of these situations?

Accountability

  • Definition of Accountability:

    • "Accountability means being able to accept responsibility or to account for one's actions and refers to being answerable to someone for something one has done."

  • Moral Principles:

    • Grounded in fidelity (faithfulness) and respect for the dignity and worth of both patients and colleagues.

  • Expectation of Nurses:

    • According to the CNA (2017), "Nurses are honest and practise with integrity in all of their professional interactions."

Professional Accountability

  • Key Responsibilities:

    • Keeping updated with professional standards, laws, and regulations.

    • Ensuring competence in practice.

    • Maintaining mental, physical, and emotional fitness to practice safely.

    • Mentoring others and providing feedback.

    • Advocating for equitable mental health care services.

Professional Conflict

  • Considerations:

    • Discussion points on when professional roles might conflict.

    • Impact of accountability on ethical and legal nursing practice.

Nursing Organizations

  • Overview of Major Organizations:

    • SONA: Supports nurses in Ontario.

    • CNO: College of Nurses of Ontario.

    • ONA: Ontario Nurses' Association, advocating for nursing rights and standards.

    • CNA: Canadian Nurses Association, serves as a national voice for RNs.

    • ICN: International Council of Nurses, includes over 130 national organizations.

    • CASN: Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing, promotes standards in nursing education.

    • RNAO: Professional association aiming to enhance nursing practice in Ontario.

    • Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI): Focuses on nursing scholarship and leadership.

College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO)

  • Self-Regulation of Nursing:

    • Established in 1963, reflecting the profession's ability to prioritize public interest.

  • CNO Functions:

    • Setting entry-to-practice standards.

    • Promoting practice standards and quality assurance.

    • Enforcing standards of practice through regulations.

  • Public Interest:

    • Conducting legislative processes to protect the public, including disclosure of statistical data regarding nurses.

Ontario Nurses Association (ONA)

  • Background:

    • Established in 1973 as a trade union.

    • Vision of a united and respected membership committed to care.

    • Advocates for:

    • Safe working conditions and practices.

    • Patient care concerns and equality.

  • Mission:

    • Committed to improving members' economic welfare and work-life quality while ensuring high-quality health care.

Canadian Nurses Association (CNA)

  • Function:

    • Acts as a national professional voice of registered nurses.

  • Vision and Mission:

    • Promotes nursing leadership, excellence, and public health policy.

International Council of Nurses (ICN)

  • Purpose:

    • Global representation and advocacy for nursing initiatives.

  • Membership:

    • Comprises more than 130 national nursing organizations, including CNA.

Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN)

  • Role:

    • Voice for nursing education and scholarship in Canada.

    • Establishes and promotes national standards for nursing education.

    • Accredits university nursing programs.

Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO)

  • Representation:

    • Professional association for registered nurses in Ontario.

  • Membership:

    • Available to any registered nurse or nursing student; optional membership.

  • Objectives:

    • Promote quality care environments and policies.

    • Offer best practice guidelines to enhance nursing standards.

Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI)

  • Description:

    • An international community dedicated to nursing knowledge and leadership development.

  • Foundation:

    • Established in 1922 with over 100,000 members worldwide.

CNO Code of Conduct

  • Purpose:

    • Protects public interest by promoting safe nursing practices.

    • Clearly defines expectations for nurses regarding professionalism, competence, and ethical behaviour.

  • Legislative Influence:

    • Informed by the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations.

Principles of the Code of Conduct

  1. Respect for Clients' Dignity.

  2. Inclusivity and Culturally Safe Care.

  3. Provision of Safe and Competent Care.

  4. Collaboration with Health Care Team.

  5. Integrity in Clients' Best Interests.

  6. Maintaining Public Confidence in Nursing.

  • Importance:

    • Each principle is equally important, outlining accountability for behaviour and practice in nursing.

Canadian Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Nurses

Value 1: Honouring Dignity and Autonomy

  • Principles:

    • Respect inherent dignity and autonomy.

    • Support client preferences through compassionate conduct.

Value 2: Valuing Relationships and Humanizing Care

  • Principles:

    • Maintain clients’ interests in relationships.

    • Engage in self-reflection for compassionate practice.

Value 3: Integrity and Accountability

  • Principles:

    • Act with integrity and maintain professional boundaries.

Value 4: Truth and Reconciliation

  • Principles:

    • Uphold truth and integrate Indigenous knowledge in practice.

Value 5: Promoting Social Justice

  • Principles:

    • Advocate for health equity and liberation from oppression.

Value 6: Providing Competent Practice

  • Principles:

    • Ensure continuous professional development and knowledge integration.

Value 7: Preserving Privacy and Confidentiality

  • Principles:

    • Uphold the right to privacy in all care aspects, including digital realms.

Entry-to-Practice Competencies

  • Definition:

    • "A competency is defined as the knowledge, skill, and judgment necessary for safe and ethical practice for all RNs in Ontario." (CNO, 2014)

  • Importance:

    • Ensures consistent standards across nursing education and provides public protection.

  • Core Competencies:

    • RNs must function within their defined scope and seek guidance when necessary.

  • Educational Foundation:

    • RNs must have a solid understanding of nursing theory, health sciences, humanities, and ethics from a baccalaureate program.

NCLEX Examination

  • Purpose of Registration Exam:

    • Ensures patient safety by evaluating entry-level knowledge and skills.

  • Content Focus:

    • Addresses areas like pain management, medication administration, infection control, and maintaining confidentiality.

  • Assessment of Care:

    • All drug names in the exam are generic, relevant for entry-level nurses.

Registration and Licensure

  • Definitions:

    • Licensure:

    • Granted by provincial authorities, indicates authorized practice.

    • Registration:

    • List of members in good standing and indicates compliance with practice standards.

  • Importance of licensing:

    • Ensures minimum safety levels, monitors professional conduct, and allows for removal of incompetent practitioners as necessary.

Reporting Requirements

  • CNO's Reporting Duties:

    • Obligation to report any behaviours harming clients, including incompetence or suspected abuse.

  • Legislative Contexts:

    • Relevant laws include the Fixing Long-Term Care Act (2021) and Child, Youth and Family Services Act (2017).

Legal Responsibilities

  • Confidentiality and Privacy Laws:

    • Governed by PHIPA (2004) for health information in Ontario and PIPEDA for personal information in electronic formats.

  • Regulatory Law:

    • Protects public and patient rights, governing nursing standards and practice acts.

Understanding Canada's Legal System

  • Types of Laws:

    • Public Law:

    • Governs relationships between individuals and the state (e.g., criminal law, human rights).

    • Private Law:

    • Addresses disputes between individuals (e.g., contracts, negligence).

Key Definitions

  • Liability:

    • Legally responsible for actions or omissions.

  • Tort Law:

    • Concerned with civil wrongs allowing for compensation claims.

  • Negligence:

    • Breach of the standard of care owed, resulting in patient harm.

  • Duty of Care:

    • Legal obligation to avoid harm to others.

  • Standard of Care:

    • Expected level of care within various circumstances.

  • Reasonable Person:

    • Hypothetical individual whose conduct is considered in negligence cases.

Torts in Nursing

  • Types of Torts:

    • Intentional Torts:

    • Examples include assault and battery.

    • Unintentional Torts:

    • Primarily negligence, requiring proof of duty and breach leading to injury.

Preventing Negligence

  • Best Practices:

    • Adhere to CNO standards.

    • Ensure proper education and documentation.

    • Develop patient rapport.

  • Documentation Standards:

    • Accurate, complete records are essential to mitigate negligence claims.

Confidentiality & Privacy

  • Nursing Responsibility:

    • Essential ethical and legal duties to maintain confidentiality of health information.

Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA)

  • Principal Aspects:

    • Regulates health information privacy in Ontario, ensuring patient control over their information.

Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)

  • Scope and Application:

    • Federal law protecting personal information, requiring consent for use and disclosure, with rights to access and amend data.

Conclusion

  • Module Continuation:

    • Professionalism and related topics will continue in Part 2 of PPN101.