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During a pandemic, if the nurse is asked to do something that is unfamiliar, will she still be held accountable?
The answer is yes. In the event of a pandemic, nurses may be asked to work in areas that are not familiar to them. As members of a self-regulating profession, registered nurses are accountable at all times for their own actions and decisions. Working in emergency circumstances does not suspend a nurse's accountability and responsibility for ensuring that their practice and conduct meet legislative requirements and respect policies and standards relevant to the profession and practice setting. In the performance of their professional duties, a nurse is required to exercise the degree and skill which a reasonably prudent nurse with similar training and experience would exercise under the same general circumstance.
Additionally, the Standards of Practice for Registered Nurses (2005) and The Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses (2008) state that registered nurses must practice within their own level of competence and continually acquire competencies relevant to their own practice. Nurses have the professional responsibility to take on only nursing assignments for which they are competent (NANB, 2007). When the aspect of care that needs to be provided is beyond their level of competence, nurses have the professional and ethical responsibility to seek additional information and knowledge, seek help from management or a competent practitioner and/or request a different work assignment.
If you are put in a situation where you need to work in less familiar areas, here are some strategies that can help you meet your professional responsibilities:
* Evaluate and discuss the situation with the manager/supervisor/head of department;
* Consider what your role will be and how you can work together with other health professionals to organize and provide care;
* Identify the interventions that you can competently perform given your experience;
* Offer to work in a buddy system;
* Set priorities that reflect the current situation; and
* Try to keep clients, families and employers informed about the potential change in the care plan.
In a pandemic, nurses must learn to work outside of their normal competencies. Shift patterns and shift lengths may extend.
Many different situations may arise. Will nursing students get sick pay?
Will nurses' families get compensation or pensions if something bad were to happen to them?
If the nurses' children themselves are ill and schools are closed, will there be appropriate measures in place to assist?
Community leaders can play a powerful role to prepare for the pandemic, by giving out useful information and guidance.
The government alone can't prepare for a pandemic flu. Individuals and family can prepare themselves.
The US Department of Health and Human Services recommend stocking up on bottled water, store non-perishable foods, over-the-counter drugs, health supplies, and other necessities. A two-week supply is good, but stocking up can take place over time.
Good health habits should come into play. Always cover your nose and mouth with a tissue and then throw it away in the trash. If you don't have a tissue, cover your nose and mouth with the back of your arm. Wash your hands as soon after as you can. Also, wash your hands after touching your eyes, nose or mouth, after using the bathroom, after shaking hands with someone, after touching hand rails or door handles, after borrowing someone's pen, after being near someone who is sick, before and after drinking and eating, and after handling garbage. When washing your hands properly with soap and water or gel sanitizers, you should be able to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice. Keep your remote controls, telephones, and computers clean.
