Written By: Darby Faubion BSN, RN Are you a nurse who wants to positively impact patients, healthcare facilities, and the nursing profession? Have you wondered what you can do to improve your practice and see improved patient and professional outcomes? There are many principles upon which successful nursing careers are built. In this article, I will share information with you about one ethical principle, fidelity. Perhaps you are wondering what is fidelity in nursing? In this article, you find out what fidelity in nursing means and learn about the benefits of implementing it and the consequences related to a lack of it. Fidelity is defined as faithfulness to a person, belief, or cause. It is demonstrated by being loyal and supportive. Fidelity in nursing means nurses must remain true to professional promises, such as the promise to provide high-quality, competent, safe, and efficient patient care. It also means being supportive of patient decisions, promoting patient autonomy and the furtherance of the profession. Fidelity is, perhaps, the most important of the ethical principles applied in nursing because it governs how nurses demonstrate the other six principles. Fidelity in nursing demonstrates the nurse's promise to provide competent patient care in a fair, honest, and responsible way. The following are a few reasons why fidelity is essential in nursing. Patients and their loved ones often feel anxious or afraid. When nurses practice fidelity, they create an environment conducive to developing trusting relationships. Trusting relationships can ease the emotional stress of patients, their loved ones, and the nurse by promoting open communication and allowing them to establish attainable goals. Darby Faubion BSN, RN Darby Faubion is a nurse and Allied Health educator with over twenty years of experience. She has assisted in developing curriculum for nursing programs and has instructed students at both community college and university levels. Because of her love of nursing education, Darby became a test-taking strategist and NCLEX prep coach and assists nursing graduates across the United States who are preparing to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). |