Gown card reads “There is a patient’s bill of rights. Where is the nursing bill of rights?”
I was at the doctor’s office this past week. And I noticed the patient’s bill of rights posted in a very visual location.
Near the check-in desk.
It talks about the right for treatment, the right to have access to your own records, the right to make your own treatment decision, the right to privacy, the right to make your own decisions, the right to end-of-life care, and the right to make informed consent.
All of these are important rights for patients.
At the hospital we work really hard to make sure none of these rights are violated.
As an OR nurse, all of these are done every day. Including the right to make decisions about your own end-of-life decisions, including the decision not to treat.
Immediately after seeing the patient’s bill of rights, I wondered if there was a nurse’s bill of rights.
And what I would want on there.
There is a nurse’s bill of rights. The America Nurses Association has on their website the nurse’s bill of rights.
As nurses we have the right to practice at the top of our licenses in a way that fulfills our obligation to the patients.
As nurses we are the right to continuous access to training, education, and professional development. This goes hand in hand with the pathways for nurses who want to be leaders. It also allows for nurses to be recognized as leaders and to direct shared decision-making for nursing practice, resources, staffing and safety concerns. Does this sound familiar? It should. This is what shared governance is all about.
As nurses we have the right to practice in places that ensure respect, inclusivity, diversity and equity. We do this with leaders who are committed to undo systemic racism and address racist behaviors.
As nurses we have the right to practice for and in environments that prioritize and protect well being and for a place who provides support, resources and tools to stay psychologically and physically whole.
As nurses we have the right to advocate for our patients and to raise legitimate concerns about safety without fear of retribution, retaliation, intimidation, termination, or ostracization.
As nurses we have the right to competitive compensation that is commensurate with our clinical knowledge, experiences and professional responsibility that recognizes the value of nursing practice. My personal hot take is that there is only so much money and it has to be shared equally, but the optics of a hospital system CEO making millions and millions in compensation are not good when the nurse can’t pay their rent.
As nurses we have the right to negotiate terms, wages, and work conditions. Either singly or as a collective. Hot take #2 we have to be careful about unions.
There you have it.
The nurse’s bill of rights. As found on the American Nurses Association website. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/work-environment/health-safety/bill-of-rights/
What would be your additions?
Dispatches from the Evening Shift 