“Annual Registration of Nurses” plus 2 more nursing article(s): NursingCrib.com Updates

Annual Registration of Nurses
Medical Malpractice and the Nurse
Guidelines in Choosing a field in Nursing

Posted: 06 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PDT

This article is about annual registration of nurses in the Philippines.

So here you are, falling in line in front of that building with three initials P. R. C. The efforts and candles you have burned were paid off with this well-kept privilege that goes along with that title: Registered Nurse under the Philippine Law.

Before you drown with the bliss that you feel about having that well coveted privilege professional practice, take in mind that you still have to register that or else you won't be recognized by health care institutions when you apply for a job.

Annual Registration is mandated by the Professional Regulation Commission. The professional must register and pay the prescribed fee for three years and it is paid on the birth month of the practitioner. It is a practical way isn't it? It is really designed this way so that professional will minimally forget the date of their registration.

There are circumstances however that a certain professional may not be able to pay on his or her birth month. There is a 20% surcharge is made on every calendar year being missed. It is also mandated that after five continuous year after the last paid annual registration there is a tendency for the professional's certificate of registration shall be suspended. Aside from that, the professional's name shall not be included in the roster list. After the professional have paid the dues, he or she is then able to gain the privilege without taking the examination again.

Many nurses might not now this, that with the advent of not practicing their profession it is still a must to send a letter to the Board within one year from the time he or she stopped practicing in order to avail exemptions of the annual registration fee.

It is therefore a responsibility of a nurse to be updated with the annual registration to prevent surcharges or worse than that not being included in the roster of professional nurses in the Philippines.

Medical Malpractice and the Nurse

Posted: 06 Nov 2010 12:00 PM PDT

Many of you heard about medical practice acts and the people who are being affected. First, the physician, and next the nurses, the main focus of this article are the nurses.

So what does a simple, well-trained and alert nurse to do with medical malpractice.
Medical malpractice by definition means improper or unskilful care of client's by the nurse. It is best illustrated by this example:

Take note the names here are not real nor is not pertaining to a certain person in real life.

Situation: Nurse Jane is assigned in the operating room. Dr. De La Cruz, the anaesthesiologist on duty was her long time best friend since high school. Because of this common relationship, Dr. De La Cruz allowed Nurse Jane to induct the anaesthesia to the patient after proper preparation for the surgery.

The operation went on well and the patient was then transferred to the Post Anaesthetic Care Unit. The patient undergone a major surgery and was expected to return to his conscious state after 4hours. Twelve hours have past, the patient was still unconscious. The anaesthesiologist's attention was called and held liable of the case. It was then found out that a higher dose of anaesthesia was given.
All the medical personnel present to that operation were called and held for proper deliberation of the incident.

Nurse Jane has to answer her role during the surgery.

It shows in the example how the nurse acts during a certain medical procedure. She performed one act that qualifies her of malpractice. Malpractice therefore is performing a skill that is not covered by your profession as mandated by the governing law of the land.

Here in the Philippines, nurses are not affected by the medical malpractice however such acts are still accountable against the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 R.A. 9173.

So as a newly registered nurse, or would be nurse what are the things that must be learned and taken in heart to avoid this similar situation?

1. Know by heart the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 R.A. 9173. This is the "bible" of nurses in the Philippines. The duties and responsibilities as well as the scope of nursing practice is clearly stated here. There are certain roles of nurses that needs training and specialization to legally practice in Philippine hospitals.
2. Be familiar of the By-Laws of the Philippine Nurses Association. This is the mother organization of nurses in the Philippines. It serves as the second home of nurses wherein they annually convene and collaborate updates about the current modalities of nursing care.

3. The Philippine Constitution. It states the Bill of Rights (Article III) wherein in section 1 it states that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without the due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the law. Article XIII tells about the right of the every individual to health and to receive services that enables them for optimal health. Article XV mentions the family and its foundation of the nation. Nurses have roles in these components of the society, the individual, family and the community as a whole.

4. Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses. The Board of Nursing promulgated this last July 2004 because the Filipino nurse preserves worth and dignity of the human being. It covers the ethical principles of registered nurse between people, practice, co-workers, society and environment.

5. The Nightingale Pledge. Last but not the least, The Nightingale's Pledge serves as a binding wisdom of all nurses around the world. It is the backbone of all the efforts that a nurse protects the white uniform as the symbol of purity of the profession. This is the fundamental state that a registered nurse should be a preserver of life and a good coordinator of the health team.

There are lots of laws, regulations and policies that guides the nurse to safely practice his or her profession without being at danger of such malpractices. Before you get so tied up with these do's and don'ts of our dear profession, inhale and comfortably exhale that nursing is fundamental for humans as preserver of this precious life that God can only give.

Photo credits: www.legalnursingservices.net

Guidelines in Choosing a field in Nursing

Posted: 06 Nov 2010 10:00 AM PDT

Nursing like other professions have sub-specialties that emerged as advancements in nursing care develop. Together with this new trends, responsibilities, job description and skills are being added to the definition of being a professional nurse.

First of all, in choosing a field in nursing it would be helpful enough to be aware of ones strengths and weaknesses so that one could effectively perform the duties and answer the job requirements in a certain field of nursing.

Self-awareness activities is a common activity in psychiatric nursing wherein the nurse is made to be aware with his or her strengths as well as weaknesses and steps that he or she could take in order to make use all of his or her capabilities in order to be an effective health team member.

This activity is also true enough is choosing a field in nursing.

After knowing yourself in a deeper sense, here are sensible questions in considering a field in nursing:

1. Where do I see myself five, ten or twenty years after?
2. Will this field of nursing favors professional growth for me?
3. Will this satisfy my interest and gist in life?
4. Aside from self satisfaction, will this job be financially rewarding?

These are just fundamental questions, feel free to add more in order to be clarified.

Here are the fields of nursing that are in consideration:
1. Hospital or Institutional Nursing – Nurses work with a health team and the setting is most likely hospitals, hospices, clinics and nursing homes.

2. Public Health Nursing or Community Health Nursing – Nurses are exposed to the community set-up wherein their clients are individuals, families or groups.

3. Private Duty or Special Duty Nursing – Nurses are considered as individual contractors wherein they have sole responsibility for the client.

4. Industrial or Occupational Health Nursing – Nurses here work with companies and clients here are workers in a certain company. It is required to have previous exposure to hospitals since emerging situations may arise.

5. Nursing Education – Nurses here are also teachers and molders of the future of nursing. They equip young minds in order to be competent nurses later on.

6. Military Nursing – Nurses here are specially trained for medical services during war or peace. They are responsible on both health of civilians and military men as well as people considered as enemies. This kind of field demands endurance of the rapid activity and action on the unpredictable field of work.

7. School Nursing – Nurses are responsible primarily in the welfare of students as well as the faculty. They responsible in health care activities and services by the school.

8. Clinic Nursing – Nurses works with a doctor and serves as the receptionist, data gatherer and organizer. Scheduling of appointments and organizing the patient's files are the major activities in this field. Simple procedures such as immunizations or suturing of wounds are assisted by clinic nurses.

As technology advances, more and more fields in nursing emerge, so it is a must for a nurse to be updated and take hold of the future of his or her profession.

Photo credits: www.jcrinc.com