ten000hzlegend's Journal: Speech Terapy And Nursing

This report will highlight the differing regulation guidelines for general nursing and professional speech therapy - As of 2004

1 - Professional training and registration
2 - Principles of the profession
3 - Code of conduct
4 - Continuing professional development
5 - Evidence based practice
6 - Methods of quality assurance and improvement within the professions
7 - Ethical issues and professional boundaries

(1)

Nursing
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General nursing involves a standard three year course at a medical based college or university, the minimum entry requirement is five GCSE's. The course revolves around both theory based and practical experience. Afterwards, a nursing student may undertake further studies to obtain a diploma in nursing. All new nursing staff must register with the Nursing And Midwifery Council, set up to regulate professional standard setting across all nursing practices

Speech Therapy
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Speech therapy is a standard degree course, a minimum of two years allows both theory and clinical training to be completed, entering into registration afterwards, a more common three year course enabling one hundred and five weeks full work also allows registration with the Speech and Language Therapist Board

(2)

Nursing
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Nursing was the benchmark and is the de-facto standard for the care profession, every patient cared for by a nurse must be delivered the same quality and quantity of attention and care as allowed by the individual, regardless of background, ethnic standing and moral beliefs, confidentiality must be maintained at all times and trust from patients must be obtained and kept to allow the maximum level of care being delivered and ensuring that their health is maintained

Speech Therapy
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Speech therapy as with nursing, follows the same rigid guidelines, every effort must also be made to have the patient co-operate in every action taking regarding their rehabilitation

(3)

Nursing
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A nurse's personal code of conduct follows rules designed to allow accountability in the workplace and when dealing with patients

- View the patient as an individual
- Obtain consent before treatment and care is followed through
- Protect and respect confidential information
- Maintain co-operation with team members
- Maintain professional knowledge and competence
- Be trustworthy, further your trust
- Identify and when able, minimise risks and concerns with patients

This code of conduct is the template for registration within the Nursing and Midwifery Council

Speech Therapy
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Speech therapy is regulated through the health professions council, they follow the same personal codes of conduct as with Nursing

(4)

Nursing
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Developments in nursing allows a nurse to continually update their knowledge of medical treatment and care based practice, this is achieved by attending semi-regular courses for registered members of a nursing team and published journals. The register is for nurses who are committed full time to their profession, as such, they must work 40 out of 52 weeks in the year and complete no less than 1250 hours ward based work whilst attending update courses

Speech Therapy
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Speech therapists registered under the health professions council must undertake no less than ten half days a year out of work to commit to development programs, these include local Speech Therapy groups, mentoring activities, training trainee therapists, firstly under supervision and presentation / contribution work to fellow workers

(5)

Nursing
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Nurses are regulated by their own professional standards that they lay down, they must ensure their ward area is within acceptable hygiene and safety standards for patients, also ensuring their well-being is not compromised in ANY situation, the role of a nurse is to assist an individuals needs, whether it be in the prescription of medication, familiarity in their surroundings i.e a more frail elderly patient and ensuring they are comfortable in both body and mind

Speech Therapy
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Speech therapy entails a great deal of interaction between patient and worker, therefore they must ensure all progress in recovery and recuperation of speech abilities is not superseded by mental or traumatic difficulties i.e loss of speech due to an accident, stroke etc... and that does not become a precursor to a possible relapse of communication abilities

(6)

Nursing
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General nurses operate on a hierarchical standing, as seen above, each action taken by a nurse must be without alternative and must stand to a strict level of scrutiny if it is found to not be the best decision that could have been taken, as such, each nurse must be completely up to date with medical practice and know exactly how to treat patients where no complaint can be made and understand not only what is best for the patient, but what the patient wants for themselves, nurses understand that an individuals rights under the patients charter must accomodate their own personal and professional viewpoints on care

Speech Therapy
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Speech therapy comes under regulation from the health professions council, as such, any disciplinary action and any guidance that has to be taken with workers comes from them, they base their rules on

(7)

Nursing
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As seen in a nurses code of conduct, moral and professional guidelines dictate every action a nurse takes, a patient may find themselves unable to confide and trust a nurse with personal information, even if it is important to their current level of care and medical treatment, consent must be given by the individual or a close family member before treatment is carried out regardless of urgency, except in extreme circumstances. Knowledge of current practices must collaborate with the overall nursing team, important in risk management for example

Professional boundaries include generally not disclosing any information given to a member of staff, either personal or that could have implications for the safety of others and themselves, legal matters that are discussed will in some cases have to be disclosed to, for instance, the ward sister or a confidential meeting with other members of staff or the police if they are believed to have implications outside the law

Speech Therapy
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Speech Therapy comes under the same guidelines as nursing, but also takes extra attention for the treatment and possible "embarrassment" of a patient, as speech therapy sometimes a slow and progressively difficult task, any members of staff found to be possibly ridiculing a patient will be disciplined immediately, this will then be followed by investigation into the patients emotional state as well as potential setbacks to their treatment, this of course, is only one example, the professional boundaries are resolute in ensuring the confidentiality and trust put o the patient