Although you will cover patient rights in your coursework to become a certified nursing assistant, it is still worth keeping them well in mind. Failure to comply to the rights of your patients will lead you to being fired and can even land the facility in a lawsuit if the family or the patient sues. It’s also unethical and unprofessional to not treat your patients with the utmost of respect, kindness and dignity, so understanding the rights of the patient is very important.
Patient’s Rights in Regards to Treatments
One of the most important set of patient’s rights is in regards to their treatment. A patient has the right to know what they are being treated with and why and the right to fully understand it, even if it means asking you thirty thousand questions! A patient has the right to deny treatments done to him or herself, no matter how you personally feel about it. Make sure to tell your supervisor and put a note on the patient’s files to make sure others know. A patient even has the right to deny the need for help with tasks; don’t force your patient to walk with you or even get bathed if he really doesn’t want to, but make sure to tell the nurse supervisor.
Patient’s Rights in Regards to How they are Treated
A patient has the full right to be treated with dignity and respect. He or she should not feel threatened by physical, emotional, mental or sexual abuse and should be suffering through demeaning, uncomfortable or neglectful situations. A patient also has the right to complain about how they were treated and be directed to how and where to go in order to do that. Above all, a patient should feel safe and secure while in your care.
A patient also has the right to confidentiality, privacy, and protection. This means not spreading information around about conditions, illnesses, or anything else that you have privy to that others should not. Patients also have the right to practice their religion by having a clergy man or holy person in attendance as requested, particularly before a dangerous surgery, but only as long as the visits don’t interrupt the care the patient must have. Finally, it’s important to keep in mind your patients’ various personalities, likes and dislikes. By fitting yourself as well as you can into the patchwork of the facility you work in, you’ll not only be a more effective certified nursing assistant, but you’ll also find going to work is a lot more enjoyable.
It is not easy balancing your job with the rights of the patient and there are many grey areas. Always remember that if you are struggling to find your way through the quagmire of rights and responsibilities, you can always ask your nurse supervisor for help and remember to document everything just in case it becomes necessary later. Above all, if you remember nothing else, remember that a patient should feel comfortable and cared for in a facility. Keep that in mind and many of the rights of the patient will simply fall into place.
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