Code of Ethics
Nurses were obligated to practice ethics even before the American Nurses Association (ANA) approved the Nursing Code of Ethics (The Code). Nine parts of the Code were last modified in 2015 to reflect current health care and practice developments (Stievano & Tschudin, 2019). The first four clauses define nurses’ roles and responsibilities to their patients. They discussed the significance of recognizing societal and economic factors and personal attributes. They emphasize the nurse’s need for compassion, devotion to all patients, and the responsibility to safeguard and defend those she serves. It also covers caregivers’ responsibility to offer exceptional care and accountability for their conduct. Swanson,
Guidelines 5–9 go through obligations and desirable practices in more depth. This section explains how caregivers can maintain their professional and personal development while promoting health and safety (Stievano & Tschudin, 2019). Every aspect of their work must be carried out with integrity and compassion. Best practices must constantly be referenced in professional standards. To deliver patient-centered care, nurses must cooperate professionally while keeping the integrity and merging principles for the safety and health of their patients.
This session will concentrate on clauses relating to nurses’ responsibilities to promote and protect their patients’ human rights, uphold their ethical obligations to their patients, and promote and protect their patients’ sense of security. Our community’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LBGT) children are also a focus tonight. Especially for the Lost and Found Adolescents (LNFY) program, which offers secure shelter and health insurance to homeless youth. This non-profit organization works with children in Atlanta ranging in age from 13 to 25 years old. Its mission is to eliminate homelessness among lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender people, queer (LGBTQ+) persons, and other sexual minorities in society.
Affordable Care Act and HIPAA
All patients getting treatment have been protected since the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Public Law 111-148. They need more excellent health care and coverage, including preventative treatments, and they require it without prejudice to obtaining the finest care available. As the name indicates, insurance should be affordable to everybody. Discrimination should not be based on medical history, gender, or current insurance status. Everyone should have access to affordable rates, alternative coverage, and tax credits. Evidence-based long-term support, training, and therapy (Bari & O’Neill, 2019. Finally, there should be no prejudice when it comes to purchasing medical insurance.
When the ACA requirements are paired with those of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), patients’ rights and health information are protected. ACA regulation infractions must be reported regularly, and individuals who break the rules must be held responsible. The ACA provisions that justify the violation are as follows:
- Nondiscriminatory Health-Care Systems under Section 1557 of the ACA
- Public Health Service Act (PHSA) Section 2702 – Guaranteed Problem
- Section 1302 of the ACA’s Important Health Benefits
- Eligible Healthcare Plans and Markets under Section 1311 of the ACA
HIPAA was established to secure patient data while encouraging patient health and well-being. The ACA and the HIPAA, in the context of the LGBT group, protect those seeking recovery and healing in a varied and inclusive marketplace that satisfies all their needs without discrimination (Cleveland, Motter & Smith, 2019). HIPAA infractions may cost between $100 million and $1.5 million in civil suits, depending on the severity and extent of the offense. A criminal conviction carries a fine of up to $100,000 as well as a jail term of up to ten years.
Lost-N-Found and Healthcare
LNFY helps children in need in the community by providing basic health information, crisis assistance, and health/dental referrals. They provide free HIV/STD testing, counseling, and mental health issues. People in the LGBT community are provided information about their rights and advocate for them when they are offered support. (NFL) The LGBT group is regularly refused services due to their sexual orientation. According to the Court of Auditors, this is the most severe type of discrimination. Human rights should not be denied, and services should not be withheld from them. As a volunteer, I do a physical checkup and a needs assessment before meeting with a counselor or nurse. Routine physical examinations and dental examinations are inadequate to cover all a person’s fundamental requirements.
The ACA outlaws all types of discrimination, regardless of pre-existing diseases (Home, 2019). Many health facilities discriminate against transgender kids from the outset because of their gender identification, and they transition at a younger age than in the past. Under the HIPAA, a person has the right to have some data indicating birth sex restricted if they are not necessary for health care services. Fines not exceeding $50,000 and incarceration for to five years are possible consequence. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a non-profit agency that creates and distributes norms (Rainer, Schneider & Lorenz, 2018). This is another example of how governments may influence health and safety laws to interfere with patient care coordination. People who are refused treatment are deprived of the care they need, which produces worry, which swiftly rises into a big issue once the case is probed.
Policies, Provisions and Nursing Bias
As nurses and champions for all patients, we must address our prejudices and deliver culturally relevant care without exception while advocating for LGBT individuals. Nurses must address inequalities and health biases based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression. Daily, the LGBT group experiences challenges and the stigma of injustice; one of these hurdles or stigmas should not be access to proper health care (Stievano & Tschudin, 2019). Despite state and municipal laws and prohibitions, service providers discriminate against LGBT individuals while delivering services. Therefore, treatment delays and health inequities persist.
Patient Protection
As champions for all patients, our job is to denounce prejudice and avoid interfering with patients’ rights to self-determination and crucial services. In line with the nurse’s practical ideals, compassionate and respectful care is offered in the framework of a patient-care relationship that respects human rights. If we are to act in patients’ best interests, we must try to guarantee that all patients have equitable access to services and resources without discrimination. All caregivers must provide care that is safe, inclusive, and ethical (Rainer, Schneider & Lorenz, 2018). To guarantee continuous safety, we must be careful with demographic data acquired as part of best practice identifying sexual orientation and other patient information that may breach HIPAA requirements. We also safeguard our patients by continually educating and investigating cultural sensitivity and teaching them how to apply that knowledge to patient care.
Acceptability, Accessibility, and Accountability
For members of the LGBT community, sexual orientation is generally recognized as a social determinant of healthcare. Regardless of their gender identification, these underrepresented minorities have the right to receive fair and equitable treatment in the healthcare system. According to 2017 research, patients are still discriminated against. LGBT patients’ poor health outcomes are caused by a lack of access to health care, clinician rejection to treat LGBT patients, the necessity to screen LGBT patients, and a lack of expertise in providing suitable resources for LGBT patients (Home, 2019). As good nurses, we must accommodate all patients while delivering exceptional patient care. As nurses, we must advocate for all patients, ensuring access to affordable health care without prejudice. All healthcare workers must also avoid prejudice and be held responsible for their errors.
Provisions of Healthcare Outreach
There are numerous methods to speak up for the LGBT group to avoid frequent injustices and roadblocks. There are smartphone applications available that give previously inaccessible therapy information and advice. Field services can help caregivers fight for and defend personal boundaries and patients in their professional positions. They may provide personally identifying information while keeping confidentiality and helping with any ethical difficulties (Cleveland, Motter & Smith, 2019). As part of our efforts to obtain a better knowledge of the LGBT group via communication and problem resolution, we are establishing more effective connections for the LGBT group on an equal basis with all other patients. This technique adheres to the highest levels of patient care, follows the ideals of the ACA, and safeguards patients’ health information in compliance with HIPAA laws.
Conclusion
Finally, as previously noted, legislation, regulations, and procedures exist to safeguard LGBT people seeking medical treatment from prejudiced clinicians. As healthcare professionals, especially nurses, it is our job to educate ourselves about the ethical issues and techniques necessary to serve the LGBT group. Consequently, we’re better equipped to deal with issues and provide and get greater attention from all parties engaged in the process. It encourages best practices in patient-centered care while also bolstering the healthcare sector’s capacity to better handle ethical challenges without affecting, among other things, treatment for LGBT persons (Bari & O’Neill, 2019). CES activities and education on health needs, services, resources, and problems are necessary to make a significant and lasting influence on the LGBT group.
References
Bari, L., & O’Neill, D. P. (2019). Rethinking patient data privacy in the era of digital health. Health Affairs, 12.
Cleveland, K., Motter, T., & Smith, Y. (2019). Affordable care: harnessing the power of nurses. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 24(2).
Home, A. N. A. (2019). ANA Position Statement: The ethical responsibility to manage pain and the suffering it causes.
Rainer, J., Schneider, J. K., & Lorenz, R. A. (2018). Ethical dilemmas in nursing: An integrative review. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 27(19-20), 3446-3461.
Stievano, A., & Tschudin, V. (2019). The ICN code of ethics for nurses: a time for revision. International Nursing Review, 66(2), 154-156.
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