The Concept of Respect in the Nursing Profession - Essay Example

In the United States, proper care is given high importance by the federal government. This calls all the working medical profession to protect this right by giving proper care to all people “regardless of their personal attributes or life situations” (ANA 6). In the hospital environment, a nurse handles more than one patient to take care of. This can be distressing, but a nurse nourished with respectful behavior should not show this mood explicitly to any of the patients and to the other hospital staff; the keyword is self-control. As nurses, they should be able to practice their tasks effectively and professionally such as listening attentively, "exhibiting empathy and understanding," and being "fair, consistent, and empathetic" (Ulrich, et. al. 8-9). These attitudes should be maintained even during a nurse’s personal problem.

Another factor in the concept of respect in the nursing profession is the cultural diversity of the patients. With respect to culture, the nurses should be oriented first with the background of the patients they are about to handle. Cultural awareness is an important factor in practicing the profession, since the patient’s perception of ‘care’ may be affected by their cultural background. Being aware of the patient’s culture will help the nurse establish a professional relationship with the patient, without feeling awkward or being disrespected.

In the American Nurses’ Association, patients have the “right to autonomy” which means that nurses and other medical professionals are bound to respect the individual rights of the patients such as letting them decide if he wants to undergo a delicate surgery or not. Whatever the decision there may be, nurses and doctors should respect it, as long as they have explained the possible result of this decision (Jane).

Since nurses’ primary job is to look after the patients, it is important for them to learn about their rights in the medical community. Nurses assist, and in doing this, they should be responsible for upholding empathy to determine the kind of care the patients need. Quality service is the end goal of nursing practice, thus, a nurse whose respect is high towards the profession and towards other people can be seen by the way they do their work.