Position Statement

Nurses Rights

Intent

It is the belief of the New York State Nurses Association’s Council on Nursing Practice and Councils on Ethical Practice and Human Rights that registered nurses (RNs), as accountable professionals, have rights that must be afforded to protect their dignity and autonomy in the workplace.

Position

The New York State Nurses Association believes the following rights must be afforded to registered nurses:

The right to (ANA’s Bill of Rights for Registered Nurses, 2001):

• Practice in a manner that fulfills their professional obligations to those they serve.
• Practice in an environment that allows them to operate in accordance with accepted nursing standards and within their protected scope of practice.
• Practice in an environment that supports and facilitates ethical practice.
• Advocate for themselves and their patients without fear of reprisal.
• Fair pay for their work, consistent with their knowledge base, experience and responsibilities.
• A workplace that is safe for themselves and their patients.
• Negotiate the conditions of their employment (individually or collectively).

In order to exercise these rights, RNs must:

• assess the assignment;
• clarify the facts;
• assess their own knowledge, ability and experience;
• seek additional information as needed;
• choose an action after careful evaluation of all options;;
• notify the appropriate individuals of the chosen action in a timely fashion;
• recognize that all actions have consequences (profession, legal and employment); and
• accept responsibility for their own actions.

Background

The creation of the ANA’s Bill of Rights for Registered Nurses (2001) is built on the premise that the more knowledge RNs have about their own rights and how they can be utilized, the more effective they will be at advocating for patients’ rights. It is important to recognize that there is no single or easy answer to the complex professional issues associated with nurses’ rights. Each professional nurse, when confronted with an untenable practice situation, is required to exercise all available resources in resolving the situation.

Even after all alternatives have been pursued, the professional nurse may find that a difficult and risky alternative is the only option. While this may leave the nurse in an uncomfortable situation, it must be recognized that the professional nurses’ right to exercise options and to make decisions is critical. This process impacts on the RN, patient, employer, profession and, ultimately, society.

Recommendations

The New York State Nurses Association recommends that RNs:

• understand their ethical, legal, and professional rights and responsibilities;
• articulate the importance of exercising rights, which is to empower the individual and the profession;
• exercise rights in the interest of protecting and safeguarding the public;
• utilize NYSNA’s Nurses’ Rights and Responsibilities Booklet to guide decisions in unsafe practice situations.

Approved by the NYSNA Board of Directors on September 16, 1988, and September 17, 1997; reviewed and revised by the Expanded Council on Nursing Practice on July 22, 2005; approved by the NYSNA Board of Directors on August 30, 2005.

References

American Nurses Association's Bill of Rights for Registered Nurses. (2001). Retrieved May 17, 2004, from http://www.nursingworld.org/tan/novdecd02/rights/htm.

For more information on nursing practice, contact NYSNA's Education, Practice and Research Program at 518.782.9400, ext. 282 or by e-mail.

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