A nurse's first priority is Accountability. This is what keeps trust in relationships. Accountability is defined as, "being responsible and answerable for actions or inactions of self or others in the context of delegation" (National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Resources section, 4). This refers to the nurse's legal liability for his or her actions and patient outcomes. Nursing professionals are viewed by the public as one of the most trusted and caring professions in the world. This status is achieved in the nursing profession by way of accountability. Accountability is the base of all practice and provides a platform for nursing to expand practice, gain trust, and provide excellent up to date care. Accountability continues to maintain and uphold nursing as a professional practice. Professional nursing takes on accountability by implementing through evidence based research and provision of quality care, and continuing to provide up to date care based on this idea.
Responsibility is defined as the "reliability, dependability, and the obligation to accomplish work. Responsibility also includes each person's obligation to perform at an acceptable level, the level that the person has been educated.” Accountability and responsibility differ, because responsibility belongs to the person doing the task and accountability belongs to the person who assigned the task. A professional nurse has the responsibility to practice within his/her scope of care, calling upon his/her knowledge and skills to make decisions in the best interest of the patient. The level of responsibility and accountability depends on professional levels. The Charge Nurse has more responsibility then the staff nurse, the RN has more responsibility then the LPN, and therefore their levels of professional judgment and practice are different. Their levels of professional accountability are not different.
Professional nursing is based on altruism, integrity, accountability...