Professional Responsibilities The practice of nursing has continued to evolve over the years given rapid societal changes, emergence of new diseases, and constant technological developments. Since the 1900s when nursing practice was characterized by simple registry laws and mere listing of trained practitioners, the field has experienced significant evolution in attempts to meet the ever-changing needs of patients and enhance their outcomes. Currently, nursing practice is a formal practice that is governed by specific standards and requires professional licensure (Kjervik & Brous, 2010). The evolution has also been characterized by changing and expanding roles of nurses as well as classification of nurses into different categories based on their education and licensure. The development of the nursing profession has also contributed to the emergence of legal and ethical requirements to ensure that all nursing activities focus on enhancing patient outcomes and meeting public health needs.

Ethical Requirements of the Practice of Practical Nursing

Ethics play an important role in the nursing field to an extent that policymakers and healthcare facilities/settings have established...

The Code of Ethics provides values and commitments of nurse practitioners with regards to meeting health-care needs when interacting with patient populations. The significance of ethics in the practice of practical nursing is also attributable to the fact that these professionals face many dilemmas since the nature of their work is centered on making life-and-death decisions. Some of the ethical requirements in practical nursing include professional obligations, maintenance of patient confidentiality, and professional relationships. With regards to professional obligations, nurses are required to demonstrate their competency when carrying out their duties in patient care. Patient confidentiality involves protecting the patient's right to confidentiality and utilizing patient information for care processes only. Nurses are also required to maintain professional relationships with other professionals in the healthcare process like physicians and co-workers (Ward, 2012). Additionally, nurses have to adhere to the various ethical principles that govern the care delivery process and healthcare activities.
Legal Requirement of the Practice of Practical Nursing

Apart from ethical requirements, the practice of practical nursing is also characterized by certain legal requirements. In this regard, there are several laws that have been enacted to govern nursing practice and promote the delivery of effective care services and meet patient needs and enhance their outcomes. One of the legal requirements of the practice of practical nursing is for the practitioner to comply with the standards of care.…