CONFERENCE 2007 FEPI Placing Patient First Effective Nursing Regulation across Europe

CÓDIGO ÉTICO Y DEONTOLÓGICO PARA LA ENFERMERÍA EUROPEA

CONFERENCE 2007

FEPI Placing Patient First

Effective Nursing Regulation across

Europe

CODE OF ETHICS AND CONDUCT FOR

EUROPEAN NURSING

“Protecting the public and ensuring patient safety”

Prof. Máximo A. González Jurado. RN, PhD


President of the Spanish General Nursing Council

Vice-President of the European Federation of Nursing Regulators (FEPI)

Former Vice-President of the International Council of Nurses (ICN)

Degree in Nursing Degree in Social and Cultural Anthropology Specialized nurse in Medical

and Surgical Care Doctor’s Degree at the Madrid Complutense University Full professor at the Madrid

Complutense University

Prof. Máximo A. González Jurado. RN, PhD

CODE OF ETHICS AND CONDUCT

FOR EUROPEAN NURSING


Table of contents

I. Reasons and objectives of this FEPI initiative

II.

III. Working methodology

IV. Key principles

V. Future actions

Main references of the new code


Table of contents


II. Main references of the new code


IV. Key principles

V. Future actions


Reasons for the initiative (I)

To help ensure the safety and protection of all those receiving nursing care throughout Europe in the framework of free circulation

To harmonize the principles of quality and equity when providing nursing care throughout Europe


Reasons for the initiative (II)

To guide National Regulatory Bodies on the principles and values that shall inspire their National Codes of Ethics and Conduct

To inform patients and nurses about our common rules of ethics and conduct that European nurses shall respect


Table of contents




IV. Key principles

V. Future actions


Main references

European directives

Legislation on Patients Rights

Legislation on Human Rights

CEPLIS common values


Table of contents


II. Main references f the new code


IV. Key principles

V. Future actions


Methodology

FEPI working group

Consultation process with European regulatory bodies

Consultation process with European patients’ organizations

Consultation process with other health professionals

Public consultation process through FEPI website


Methodology: Working GroupPresident: Dr. Máximo González (Spain)Rapporteur: Mrs. Sandra Arthur (United Kingdom)

Members: Mr. Alessandro Stievano (Italy) Prof. Sonja Kalauz (Croacia) Dr. Christiana Kouta (Cyprus) Mrs. Lucilia Nunes (Portugal) Dr. Theodoros Koutroubas (Belgium) Dr. Katerina Koliva (Belgium) Mrs. Mª. Teresa Monzón (Spain) Mr. Francisco Corpas Arce (Spain) Dr. Javier Sánchez Caro (Spain) Mr. Rafael Lletget (Spain) Dr. Rafael Pellicer (Spain) Mrs. Judith Foley (Ireland) Mrs. Liliana Lordache (Rumania) Mrs. Christina Mackenzie (United Kingdom) Mrs. Mireille Malafa (France)


Methodology: Working Phases Analysis of the common values for the

liberal professions (CEPLIS)

Identifying the key principles for the new European code

Drafting and reviews

Endorsement of the text by FEPI General Assembly

Public hearing procedure

Presentation at FEPI Conference (Dubrovnik)


Table of contents




IV. Key principles

V. Future actions


Key principles

Patients can rely on the fact that National

Nursing Regulatory Bodies have systems in

place aimed at defining and supervising

nursing education contents, regulations,

as well as the quality of both education and

practice required to be educated as a

nurse and to continue practicing as such.

QUALITY AND EXCELLENCE


Key principles

Patients have the right to expect that nurses maintain their competence throughout their professional career.

CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT


Key principles

HUMAN RIGHTS

Patients have the right to human dignity, which is the principle at the basis of human rights.

Human rights have the highest level of importance in this Code and all relevant human rights legislation applies, irrespective of nationality or country specific legislation.


Key principles

HUMAN RIGHTS

Patients have the right to be protected by their nurse and never be the victim of acts of torture, cruelty, abuse or other forms of inhumane or degrading treatment by a nurse.


Key principles

EQUITABLE ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE

Patients have the right to receive fair and equal access to quality healthcare and treatment, according to their needs.


Key principles

HONESTY AND INTEGRITY

Patients have the right to expect that their nurse is honest and trustworthy, and will care for them with integrity.


Key principles

RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS

Patients have the right to expect that nurses will fulfill their duties, including relationships with them and others, to a consistent standard and ethos.


Key principles

INFORMATION

Patients have the right to expect that nurses will communicate with them and provide information and advice in an appropriate, clear and user-friendly manner.


Key principles

INFORMED CONSENT

Patients have the right to self-determination and free will and this includes the promotion and protection of their personal autonomy.

Patients have the right to decide whether or not to accept nursing care or to refuse to receive information, advice or care and that the nurse will respect this decision.


Key principles

CONFIDENCIALITY

Patients have the right to expect that any information they disclose is confidential between themselves and their nurses.


Key principles

CONFLICT WITH MORAL AND ETHICAL BELIEFS

In the event of conflict caused by deep moral, ethical or other beliefs arising from a request for nursing services, a nurse is encouraged to find a solution through dialogue with relevant parties such as the patient, employer, regulatory body or professional organisation.


Key principles

DELEGATION TO AND SUPERVISION OF STAFF

Patients have the right to expect that anyone providing nursing care to them is appropriately trained and competent to provide that care.

It is the responsibility of the nursing regulatory body to define the scope of delegation.

Nurses retain the ultimate accountability should they delegate tasks to another.


Key principles

PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY INSURANCE

Patients have the right to expect that any nurse caring for them will be suitably insured in the event of any problems.


Key principles

COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE OF ETHICS AND CONDUCT

Patients have the right to expect high quality care from nurses through compliance with their code of ethics and conduct and all relevant legislation.


A glossary defines 56 terms included in the Code, which may give cause for concern or misunderstanding to readers from different countries.

Glossary of terms


Table of contents



III. Working references

IV. Key principles

V. Future actions


Presentation of the Code to the European Commission and to the International Council of Nurses (ICN)

Publication in the different languages of the

countries of Regulatory Bodies

Adaptation of National Codes

Periodical reviews and updating

Future actions


“Proceeding honestly in favour of the dignity of mankind is the most important commitment for our short journey in this world”.

René Gerónimo Favaloro

Documents

CONFERENCE 2007 FEPI Placing Patient First Effective Nursing Regulation across Europe