From the Guidelines
A nurse demonstrates fidelity in client care by establishing and maintaining rapport, ensuring privacy and confidentiality, and demonstrating empathy through active listening and observation. This approach is supported by the CDC's key recommendations for the provision of contraception, which emphasize the importance of building trust and rapport with patients 1.
Key Components of Fidelity in Client Care
- Establishing and maintaining rapport through open-ended questions and demonstrations of expertise, trustworthiness, and accessibility
- Ensuring privacy and confidentiality by explaining how personal information will be used and maintaining confidentiality
- Demonstrating empathy through active listening, observation, and withholding judgment, as outlined in the study published in the American Family Physician in 2015 1
Demonstrating Fidelity in Practice
By following these steps, nurses can demonstrate their commitment to fidelity and build strong, trusting relationships with their clients. This, in turn, can lead to better health outcomes, improved patient satisfaction, and enhanced quality of life. As noted in the study, demonstrating empathy and trustworthiness is crucial in establishing a strong nurse-patient relationship 1.
Prioritizing Fidelity in Client Care
In real-life clinical practice, prioritizing fidelity is essential for building trust and ensuring that clients feel comfortable sharing personal information and adhering to treatment plans. By prioritizing fidelity, nurses can provide high-quality, patient-centered care that addresses the unique needs and concerns of each client, as supported by the CDC's recommendations 1.
From the Research
Demonstrating Fidelity in Client Care
A nurse demonstrates fidelity in client care by adhering to ethical principles and codes of conduct. Some key aspects of fidelity in nursing practice include:
- Acting as a moral agent and making decisions that prioritize the well-being and safety of patients 2
- Respecting patients' autonomy and rights, including informed consent, truth-telling, and confidentiality 3
- Providing high-quality care that is guided by ethical principles, such as beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice 3, 4
- Being accountable for one's actions and decisions, and being transparent in one's practice 5, 6
Adherence to Ethical Codes
Studies have shown that nurses' adherence to ethical codes is satisfactory, but there is still room for improvement 4. Patients, nurses, and managers may have different perspectives on nurses' adherence to ethical codes, highlighting the importance of considering multiple viewpoints in evaluating ethical practice 4. Employment of new approaches to teach nursing ethical principles can improve compliance with nursing ethical codes and patients' satisfaction with nurses' performance 5.
Impact of Codes of Ethics
The use and impact of codes of ethics, such as the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics, can have a significant influence on nursing practice and the work environment 6. However, more research is needed to increase evidence-based knowledge of the impact of codes of ethics on nursing practice and patient outcomes 6. By prioritizing ethical practice and adhering to codes of ethics, nurses can demonstrate fidelity in client care and provide high-quality, patient-centered care.