Promoting Professional Accountability And Ownership

Promoting Professional Accountability And Ownersh

In the article titled "Promoting Professional Accountability and Ownership: Nursing Leaders Set the Tone for a Culture of Professional Responsibility," Sherman and Cohn (2019) explore the concept of professional accountability within nursing. They define professional accountability as an internally driven mindset characterized by a commitment made by nurses to themselves and their careers to continually grow, improve, and adapt in their practice, ultimately to enhance patient outcomes. This self-mandated responsibility involves nurses applying their talents and energies diligently to ensure high standards of care are maintained.

The authors emphasize that while individual nurses are responsible for their own accountability, the effectiveness of a culture of professionalism depends significantly on each nurse holding their colleagues accountable as well. In the context of over three million practicing nurses, this collective responsibility is essential to sustain standards of patient care and foster a professional environment where accountability is a shared value. Such a culture supports nurses in acting as true professionals who are committed not only to personal growth but also to the accountability of their team and the organization.

Application of professional accountability manifests distinctly within clinical practice, particularly through ongoing clinical expertise. Nurses enhance their skills continuously by assessing each patient thoroughly, consulting professional resources, and seeking advice from more experienced colleagues. This process underscores their commitment to clinical excellence and is fundamental to providing safe, effective patient care. Additionally, nurses demonstrate accountability through adherence to the nursing process, which involves systematic assessments, planning, implementation, and evaluation of care. Communication within the interdisciplinary team (IDT)—comprising physicians, therapists, and other healthcare professionals—is a critical aspect of this accountability.

This communication usually occurs during shift handoffs or team discussions, where the nurse explicitly verbalizes their assessment findings, planned interventions, and evaluations to the IDT or charge nurse. Such transparency ensures continuity of care and allows for collaborative input, reinforcing the nurse’s accountability for their part in the patient’s overall care plan. Furthermore, adhering to evidence-based practices (EBP) exemplifies professional accountability. The nursing profession and the public expect nurses to utilize current research and guidelines to inform their clinical decisions, thus improving patient outcomes and maintaining standards of quality care.

In practice, nurses are held accountable to their colleagues, patients, and the healthcare system by adhering to established standards of care that are rooted in EBP. For instance, a nurse caring for a patient post-surgery must follow protocols based on the latest evidence, such as proper wound care and pain management strategies. Multiple nurses caring for the same patient during hospitalization must ensure consistency and continuity in the application of these standards, which is only achievable through a shared culture of accountability centered on EBP. Such collaborative responsibility reinforces the importance of accountability not solely as an individual attribute but as a collective ethical obligation integral to nursing professionalism.

Conclusion

Promoting professional accountability in nursing is vital for fostering a culture of excellence and safety. It involves individual commitment, effective communication, adherence to evidence-based standards, and a collective sense of responsibility among nurses and other healthcare professionals. When nurses embrace accountability at both personal and team levels, they contribute to improved patient outcomes, enhanced trust in the nursing profession, and the cultivation of a work environment rooted in responsibility and integrity. As nursing continues to evolve with advances in medicine and technology, maintaining a strong culture of accountability remains fundamental to ensuring the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care.

References

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