One of the most important responsibilities you will have as a nursing assistant is to ensure that your patients’ rights are respected – meaning that there is an ethical code of conduct that you must follow, in order to treat patients correctly, fairly, and ethically, according to the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987.
Your patient has a right to:
Quality of Life. Patients have a right to the best care available – dignity, choice, and independence are important factors.
Services and activities to maintain a high-level of wellness. Patients should receive the correct care and that care should keep them as healthy as possible every day. Health should not decline as a result of the care they receive.
Be fully informed regarding rights and services. They must be told what care and services are available and the cost for each. They must be aware of their legal rights and those rights have to be explained in a clear fashion that can be easily understood.
The right to participate in their own care. Patients have the right to participate in planning their treatment, care, and discharge. They may refuse medication, treatment, and restraints, and they must be advised of changes to their medication, plus they have the right to review their medical history.
The right to make independent choices. Patients can make choices about their doctors, care, and treatment, as well as personal choices.
The right to privacy and confidentiality. Patients have to expect privacy with their care, knowing that their information will be kept confidential.
The right to dignity, respect, and freedom. Patients must be respected and treated with dignity, and cannot be abused in any way.
The right to security of possessions. Patients’ possessions must be secure at all times and cannot be taken or used by anyone without their permission.
Rights during transfers and discharges. Patients have a right to stay in a facility until a transfer or discharge is needed. That transfer, then, ust be made safely and with the patient’s knowledge.
The right to complain. Patients may complain without fear of punishment.
The right to visits. Patients have a right to visits from family, doctors, groups, and others.