Role and responsiblity of newly qualified nurse Essay

Role and responsiblity of newly qualified nurse - Essay Example By fulfilling such functions, her transition into actual clinical practice can be eased. The newly qualified nurse has to establish what roles and responsibilities she is expected to play in the actual practice. This paper shall now present a critical discussion on the roles and responsibilities of newly qualified nurses. It shall also critically discuss in detail two of these roles, with one of these roles focusing on patient group directions. Critical discussion on the roles of the newly qualified nurse The newly qualified nurse has the following professional roles: leading in care management and care delivery situations; maintaining standards of care; making ethical and legal decisions; being accountable; working in teams; and teaching others (Burton and Ormrod, n.d, pp. 1-2). The responsibility of taking the lead in care management and care delivery situations involves goal setting and self regulation (NHS, n.d). In effect, it also involves the process of group learning and probl em solving, as well as taking a more active role in applying appropriate and vigilant nursing care skills (O’Connor, 2002, p. 69). The newly qualified nurses’ role is also to maintain standards of care. ... The legal standards of care are based on the standards as set by the Nurse Practice Act which governs each state; it is also governed by the Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice published by the American Nurses Association (Smith, 2009). The newly qualified nurses’ role is to follow these provisions and to ensure that other nurses also follow said standards. The newly qualified nurses must also base their ethical decisions on the principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice (Robertson, 1996, p. 292). The nurse must respect the patient’s right to autonomy and self determination in terms of making his decisions about his care (Silverman, et.al., 1995, p. 502). She must also implement such decisions based on what would best benefit the patient in terms of health care services (Melia, 1994, p. 7). The principle of non-maleficence also calls for the nursing decisions to not be harmful to the patient – to bring him ‘no harm’ (Black, 2002, p. 423). Finally, the principle of justice – that of giving the patient his due – must also be observed by the newly qualified nurse in order to help ensure that the patient would be receiving what he is entitled in terms of services and nursing care (Bishop and Scudder, 2001, p. 24). The newly qualified nurses’ role is also to be accountable for her actions or inaction. As soon as she takes oath and she practices her profession, the newly qualified nurse is as accountable for her actions as other nurses and health professionals (Smith, 2009). This accountability stems from the expected legal and ethical actions which she is supposed to carry out during her practice. Her accountability is also personal, in effect, she must be capable of making her decisions after