On your best behaviour: new conduct codes commence
Tuesday, 06 March, 2018
New codes of conduct for all nurses and midwives in Australia took effect on 1 March 2018. The codes set out the legal requirements, professional behaviour and conduct expectations for all nurses and midwives in all practice settings.
The (NMBA) sets the standards, codes and guidelines, which together establish the requirements for professional and safe nursing and midwifery practice in Australia.ÌýNMBA Chair Associate Professor Lynette Cusack RN said the codes are vital guidance to ensure safe nursing and midwifery care.Ìý"Nursing and midwifery are hugely trusted professions in our community and the purpose of the codes of conduct is to make sure that daily practice meets that trust," she said.Ìý"All nurses and midwivesÌýshare the responsibility of meeting that trust, and the codes provide guidance to do that."
The new codes incorporateÌýprofessional boundaries expectations, which are no longer separate documents. They also provide more guidance around:
- bullying and harassment,
- professional relationships,
- cultural practice and respectful relationships,
- lack of care,
- financial arrangements, and
- professional behaviour.
Ìý
The codesÌýcan be viewed on theÌýÌýsection of the NMBA website, alongside a suite of resources the NMBA has developed to support nurses and midwives to get to know their new codes, including conduct case studies and fact sheets. The NMBA has also launched a video promoting the values and principles of the codes, and aÌýpresentationÌýexplaining the key conduct expectations.ÌýThe NMBA is asking nurses and midwives to view these resources and reflect on how the new codes of conduct relate to their practice, which can count towards continuing professional development (CPD) hours.
A/Prof.ÌýCusack encouraged all nurses and midwives to reflect on the changes to conduct expectations and their own practice.Ìý"Nurses and midwives need to meet the standards set in these codes, even if their employer also has a code of conduct,"Ìýshe said.
Also commencing from 1 March 2018 in Australia, the and the . These documents replace the NMBAÌýCode of ethics for nursesÌý-ÌýAugust 2008Ìýand the NMBAÌýCode of ethics for midwives - August 2008.
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