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The Rights of Nurses
In carrying out his/her duty to patients, the nurse operates within the
ethical rules governing the profession and his/her career scope of practice.
The confirmation of the rights of the nurse is therefore not an end in
itself, but a means of ensuring improved service to patients. To enable
the nurse to provide safe, adequate nursing, he/she has the right to:
- practise in accordance with the scope which is legally permissible
for his/her specific practice;
- a safe working environment which is compatible with efficient
patient care and which is equipped with at least the minimum physical,
material and personnel requirements;
- proper orientation and goal-directed in-service education in respect
of the modes and methods of treatment and procedures relevant to
his/her working situation;
- negotiation with the employer for such continuing professional
education as may be directly or indirectly related to his/her
responsibilities;
- in the case of a registered person, equal and full participation in
such policy determination, planning and decision-making as may concern
the treatment and care of the patient;
- advocacy for and protection of patients and personnel for whom
he/she has accepted responsibility;
- conscientious objection, provided that:
 | the employer has been timeously informed in writing |
| it does not interfere with the safety of the patient and/or
interrupt his/her treatment and nursing; |
- refuse to carry out a task reasonably regarded as outside the scope
of his/her practice and for which he/she has insufficient training or
for which he/she has insufficient knowledge or skill;
- not to participate in unethical or incompetent practice;
- written policy guidelines and prescriptions concerning the
management of his/her working environment;
- refuse to implement a prescription or to participate in activities
which, according to his/her professional knowledge and judgement, are
not in the interest of the patient;
- have disclosed to him/her the diagnosis of patients for whom he/she
accepts responsibility;
- a working environment which is free of threats, intimidation and/or
interference;
- a medical support or referral system to handle emergency situations
responsibly.
In addition to the above, the nurse is entitled to
his/her rights in terms of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and
relevant labour legislation; provided that the exercising of such rights does
not put at risk the life or health of patients.
South African Nursing Council
acknowledges that nurses have rights too
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