In this journal, I will be examining the similarities and differences between the code of conduct for nurses and Florence Nightingale's pledge. The code of conduct outlines specific standards that nurses are expected to adopt in their practice today. Florence Nightingale's pledge is what the early Australian nurses were expected to follow in the late 1800s/1900s and onwards. The code of conduct for nurses precisely states all requirements, behaviour and expectations for nurses in Australia.
The code of conduct for nurses is made up of seven principles. The principles are Legal compliance, person-centered practice, cultural practice and respectful relationships, professional behaviour, teaching supervising and assessing, research in health and health and wellbeing. Nurses must abide by the law, validate patient confidentiality and privacy, no discrimination against anyone regardless of their culture, race or beliefs, promote health and wellbeing, provide safe centered care, encourage open and honest relationships, promote shared decision making and care delivery and express integrity, respect, honesty, and compassion (Nursing and Midwifery Board Australia 2018,pp.5-15).
Nurses can regulate their behaviour by assessing their conduct against Professional practice guidelines, Code of Ethics, Code of Professional Conduct, Standards for practice, Professional boundaries and Decision-making framework. If a nurse has behaved in a way that that doesn't comply with the standards and conduct, National Board may take action and this could result in a caution, having forced conditions on your registration or the matter could be referred to another organization (ANMEC n.d,pp.9-22).
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The Florence Nightingale pledge is a statement of principles and standards for earlier Australian nurses to follow. Nurses swore to adhere to the code of ethics ordered by the nursing profession, to work collaboratively with all members of the nursing profession and to faithfully conduct any task they were allocated. The nurses pledged to never do anything evil- intentioned, partake in wrongdoing or break confidentiality. Under the pledge, nurses committed themselves to their occupation and to providing care to the best of their abilities. Over time nurses started adapting to the Nightingale principles. Nurses were trained in practical skills, which included the application of dressings, leeching and administering enemas.
Nurses were made aware of the equal importance of punctuality, diligence, compassion, cleanliness, sexual purity, and obedience. However some differences were, Nightingale pledged herself to God, Nightingale's main idea was to help war victims and it was seen that only God could heal, that illness was some form of punishment for sins committed. Another difference was an immense amount of nursing work was housekeeping at this time, now nursing work is much broader than housekeeping. Earlier Australian Nurses didn't have the appropriate sources to further their knowledge like nurses do now (Koutoukidis, Stainton & Hughson 2017, pp.6-7; Rapid Med Team 2018, paragraph 7; ANMEC n.d, pp. 4-6). In conclusion, it is clear the codes of conduct and the pledge have multiple similarities and some differences.
The codes of conduct and the pledge both share some of the same principles as stated above. There are also differences, such as Florence Nightingale pledges herself before God, not everyone has the same beliefs. Nightingale's main idea was to help war victims, however, nurses must help all patients in need. It's no longer seen that god could only heal, that illness is a punishment from sins committed in this day and age.
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