Paper Works

Bonus Mary Grace BSN 206 October 8, 2010

The Hippocratic oath is an ethical code of principles attributed to the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, adopted as a guide to conduct by the medical profession throughout the ages, usually taken by those about to enter the practice of medicine swearing in upholding a number of professional ethical standards. It embodies the duties and obligations of physicians or other health care provider as well as their students in rendering a good quality health care to their clients correspondingly. It strongly binds the student to his teacher and the greater community of physicians with responsibilities similar to that of a family member. It is done to honor one’s teachers, take care of their family or children if need be, and offer free medical training to a teacher’s children.

The oath does describe a promise to help those who are sick or ill with all the knowledge, all the best of his ability and power at his disposal. He will refrain from using his knowledge or instrumentation for any evil reason. And, of course, he will never disclose the private secrets of his patients. It is also included here that health care providers must try not to harm anyone and to prescribe medicines to the best of one’s abilities, and to never give medications that could be used to poison someone or to cause a woman to abort a child. It also enjoins that health care providers should keep their patients' conditions private, that they not have sexual relationships with patients or a patient’s family, and that they work always for the good of the patients.

Hippocratic oath is very significant in relation to nursing practice as it serves as a guide not only in nurses and physicians but also in every health care provider in practicing their profession with morality, for, it stresses out the ethical principles in giving the right quality care in every patients providing guidance and protection.These ethical guidance could be the baseline on...