Nursing has always been considered to be a noble profession. Nurses selflessly provide care, counseling and guidance to not just the ailing member, but also to the family members so that they can cope with the illness and live more comfortably.

Generally, the work in the nursing industry, till a few years back was of a typical nature. The nurse worked her shift in the hospital until she retired, received an average income and earned the stipulated holidays. The growing American economy has caught up in the health care sector too. The fact that there is an alarming shortage of nurses is not hidden. A great imbalance in the demand and supply of individuals in the nursing profession has lead to the boom in the nursing sector.

In the present times, nurses have ample of opportunities to grow. There are a number of options available today that may rejuvenate the nursing career, effectively overcoming the disproportionate income as compared to the long hours and dedication to the work they put in. A nurse can easily make a lot of money and live comfortably by diversifying. There are many opportunities like becoming an independent nursing contractor, starting your own nursing agency, nursing registry, nurse staffing agency etc. The options for increasing your income are endless.

As an independent nurse contractor, the nurse has the choice of the place and amount of hours to work for, giving professional independence and a significant income. As an independent nurse, you have to enter into a contractual agreement which would be drawn between you and the health care establishment for nursing services. The contract enables you to negotiate the hours of work, duration of your services and compensation. An independent nurse usually contracts with a health care establishment or with a patient, and is compensated by the hour.

The different types of health care establishments an independent nurse can opt for are nursing homes, hospitals, doctor’s offices, nurse consultancy, home health, rehabilitation centers etc. Independent nurse contracting gives the opportunity to double or triple income without working overtime, enhance job satisfaction and gain a better control over career and financial conditions.

With the ever increasing shortage of qualified nurses, the nursing registry industry is growing by leaps and bounds. This area in nursing provides limitless opportunities. In order to start your nursing agency, all you need is the willingness and passion for being self employed is needed. There are many ready made packages available that can help start this business. These packages provide marketing strategies, administrative targets, organizational structure, nurse checklist forms, competency forms etc. The demand for good nursing care is huge and ever increasing, ensuring handsome profits.

Even on a smaller scale a nurse can start a nurse staffing agency as she or he works and earn a lot of money. By providing a registry for even two full time nurses, an earning of about $100,000, can be made, which is more than the annual salary drawn by a typical nurse!!! It is therefore advisable to diversify and bank on the booming nursing industry and make the millions now!

Nursing is a profession that demands trust. A patient places their health and well being not only in the hands of their physicians, but in the hands of their nurses as well. So, to ensure that new nurses understand, and experienced nurses remember, this aspect of their profession, a nurse’s code of ethic was developed. Ethics in the field of nursing are meant to hold nurses accountable to the highest standards for patients care. It is important to note that there are many versions of this code. However, since most the notable difference is the terminology and level of detail in which each topic is described, we will touch on the most common concepts or provisions.

The first and most important provision of ethics in the field of nursing is to practice with the compassion and understanding that all individuals should treated with dignity and respect regardless of their health problems, social status, race, religion, disability, financial status, or creed. This particular ethical provision is broken down to further outline the importance of a nurse’s relationship with patience, the respect for human dignity, the relationships with colleagues and peers, and the right of self-determination, or a patient’s right to decide their fate provided they are given accurate information regarding their condition and options.

The second provision in the code of ethics for nurses is that a nurse’s primary commitment is to the patient. This section discusses how nurses should wade through conflicts where a nurse’s patient and others, typically family members, other loved ones, or employers, have differing opinions on care and treatment needed. In these situations a nurse must maintain the integrity of the nursing profession, by safeguarding the patient’s best interest. This provision also specifies the need for collaboration between nurses, other medical professionals, and any other person relevant to a patient’s care. Finally there is section that outlines the need for professional boundaries. The code of ethics describes the need for nurses to maintain professionalism in relationships with patients and colleagues in order to ensure their patients receive the best care possible.

Next, there is the need for a nurse to promote not only a patient’s health and wellbeing, but also the rights of a patient. This provision covers the need for privacy and confidentiality. This section specifies that only the information vital to a patient’s health should be disclosed and only to those who are directly involved in that patient’s care. However there are exceptions to this provision. Information should also be disclosed if it may protect other individuals or become a public health concern. There are also exceptions to the rule for things such as peer reviews, third party payments, lawsuits, and rehabilitations; but patient information must be disclosed in a way that upholds any and all privacy policies, protocols, laws, and/or regulations. Taking appropriate action when any member of a health team is acting inappropriately or practicing under any undo influence is also covered under this provision.

The fourth provision discusses the need for nurses to take responsibility and to be held accountable for their actions. The actions of a nurse will affect a patient’s standard of care. Therefore, nurses must ensure that they show sound judgment in treating patients and delegating tasks to other nurses. In delegating, nurses must ensure that they delegate to a healthcare professional who is capable and qualified to complete the task.

Since nursing can be a thankless profession, the next provision mandates that nurses treat themselves with the care in which they treat their patients. This provision calls for the nurse to continue to grow and learn their craft; take time for him or herself; and, preserve their integrity and moral self-respect.

There are also provisions that outline a nurse’s responsibility to the public and the need for nurses to positively influence their working environment. Nurses have a responsibility to use their knowledge for the betterment of those around them. They should not get caught up in the negativity of others, even if it is coming from coworkers or superiors in their workplace.

The final provisions call for nurses to strive to take the profession forward through research, identifying health needs and concerns, and by staying abreast of and implementing best practices for patient care, healthcare, and new technology.

Ethics in the field of nursing is as important as the profession itself. So to ensure uniformity the American Nurses Association created a Nursing Code of Ethics. However, it is important to note that although this is the most popular code, there are others, specifically for various other countries. This standard for nurses has been updated over the years and will continue to change with the healthcare industry. Yet, the heart of the ethical code for nurses is and will always be the health and welfare of their patients.