EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE RIGHTS IN NURSING

EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE RIGHTS IN NURSING

by Ricky Ocampo RN

            The constitution places rights that every person is entitled to so that there can be a peaceful coexistence where every person is allowed to thrive. The rights ensure that the law protects people from any form of harm or injustice from other people, governments, and companies. The nurses have various rights that protect their role and their scope as well as their employment (Milstead, 2016). The bill of rights outlines seven rights that every nurse in the country should have. They include the right to practice in a manner that realizes their obligations to those who receive nursing care and the whole society. Nurses need to be fully committed to the society and ensure their profession is to the benefit of the community. Nurses also have the right to practice in environments that permit them to act by legally authorized scopes of practice and professional standards. They also have the right to a work environment that facilitates and supports the ethical practice. The employers need to provide the nurses a suitable environment where nurses can fulfill their roles while meeting various rules of ethics and professional guides (Fitzpatrick et al. 2013).

The bill of rights also gives the nurses the right to openly and freely advocate for their patients and themselves without fear. It also gives the nurses the right to a work environment that is safe for their patients and themselves. The nurses also have the right to negotiate the conditions of their employment either collectively or as individuals (Fitzpatrick et al. 2013). The employers also have rights that protect them such as the right to discipline or terminate the contract of the employee who operates in contrast to the rules agreed on the contract. The employer also has the right to report the nurse involved in misconduct to the relevant licensing board. Understanding the rights of the employer and employee is important since it ensures that the advanced practice nurse does not get into a contract where his or her rights are violated. It also ensures that the advanced practice nurse knows the rights to demand for better employment terms or the improvement of the work environment. The topic is also important since the advanced practice nurse can avoid infringing the rights of the employer (Kangasniemi et al. 2013).

References

Fitzpatrick, T., Anen, T., & Martinez Soto, E. (2013). Nurse Staffing: The Illinois Experience. Nursing Economic$, 31(5), 221-259.

Kangasniemi, M., Stievano, A., & Pietilä, A. (2013). Nurses’ perceptions of their   professional rights. Nursing Ethics, 20(4), 459-469. doi:10.1177/0969733012466001

Milstead, J. (2016). Health Policy and Politics-A Nurse's Guide (Milstead, Health Policy and         Politics)(5th ed.). Burlington, Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Nickitas, D., Middaugh, D., & Aries, N. (2014). Policy and Politics for Nurses and Other Health Professionals (2nd ed.). Burlington, Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett Learning.