How does autonomy impact the nursing practice?

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How does autonomy impact the nursing practice? In what ways? If you could be detailed it would be great. :D

-Question from a current nursing student.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Clinical assignment info easily available via internet search:

The meaning of autonomy in nursing practice.

Professional autonomy means having the authority to make decisions and the freedom to act in accordance with one's professional knowledge base. An understanding of autonomy is needed to clarify and develop the nursing profession in rapidly changing health care environments and internationally there is a concern about how the core elements of nursing are taken care of when focusing on expansion and extension of specialist nursing roles.

Online Journal of Issues in Nursing: great resource for ethics

Strategies for Enhancing Autonomy and Control Over Nursing Practice

AACN: The Practice of Clinical Autonomy in Hospitals: 20 000 Nurses Tell Their Story

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Thanks I already know the definition.... I just want to know do you see autonomy practiced first hand.... I guess I worded my question weird. FYI for anyone who see's this i am not trying to get answers for h.w. Just want some 1st hand experience...

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It is scary.

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

These topics are difficult to address fully in forums such as ours. The matters covered within the included subjects are quite large and encompassing.

Best suggestion is to take smaller chunks of the whole and discuss them piecemeal. Most of us here work full-time and devote just a small amount of our free time to issues raised here. for now

Just as a teaser :) : IMHO, autonomy and CONP require two different approaches... for the first... a more open, freer policy; and for the latter... one with more definition, control, protocols, best practices and the like. Will leave it there for now.

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right. i think discussions should be mode specifically..

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there is no autonomy in nursing. nursing is not a "profession". it is a service occupation, just like working at McDonalds. nursing schools like to teach that nursing is a profession, but in reality it is just complying with standard of care and practice, and doctor's orders.

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there is no autonomy in nursing. nursing is not a "profession". it is a service occupation, just like working at McDonalds. nursing schools like to teach that nursing is a profession, but in reality it is just complying with standard of care and practice, and doctor's orders.

What about when an RN has her own private practice?

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
Thanks I already know the definition.... I just want to know do you see autonomy practiced first hand.... I guess I worded my question weird. FYI for anyone who see's this i am not trying to get answers for h.w. Just want some 1st hand experience...

Really? I would have bet a chunk of change this was homework soft an ethics topic (in which case there is a very different answer).

Are you asking about how nurses practice to respect patients' ethical right to autonomy?

Or about how nurses practice autonomously?

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.
there is no autonomy in nursing. nursing is not a "profession". it is a service occupation, just like working at McDonalds. nursing schools like to teach that nursing is a profession, but in reality it is just complying with standard of care and practice, and doctor's orders.
When I was an LVN my practice of nursing was not autonomous.

As a registered nurse i am responsible for the nursing process as outlined in the STANDARDS OF COMPETENT PERFORMANCE.

No hospital policy or computer softwear may interfere with my responsibility and right to advocate in the interest of my patients.

The RN control the Nursing Care Plan, the education and discharge teaching plan for patients and family, and when it is OK to assign a nursing task to an LVN or other person.

Nursing is not a job for robots.

Basic RN responsibilities in my state: Standards ofCompetent Performance[

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.
there is no autonomy in nursing. nursing is not a "profession". it is a service occupation... nursing schools like to teach that nursing is a profession, but in reality it is just complying with standard of care and practice, and doctor's orders.

Sadly, there are elements of truth in the above, IMO.

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

Employers or physicians may want nurses to follow algorithms, but that is not acceptable.

Scripting is not OK.

Empathy is essential. We must strive for this. We must insist on performing a complete assessment based on our own observation of the patient and then analying and synthesizing objective and subjective data to formulate Nursing Care Plan.

If we observe a change in the patien's condition it is our responsibility to act. Actions include notifying the physician and following medical orders, when appropriate.

Please remember hospitals exist for the purpose of providing NURSING CARE.

Any other diagnosis and/or treatment can be provided without admitting a person to the hospital.

Nursing Homes name makes it clear they are for people who need nursing care.

How much time does any other health professional spend with patients in hospitals and nursing homes? (SNF etcetera)

Acute care LPNs/LVNs do require clinical supervision, but are responsible for reporting any change in the patient's condition to the RN.

As professionals RNs and LVN/LPNs have a license and a great deal of responsibility.

Because we have an obligation to advocate for our patients, we must have the authority to fulfill that responsibility.

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