In the process of assuming these responsibilities, the nurse is held accountable for them. 4.3 Accountability for Nursing Judgement and Action Accountability refers to being answerable to someone for something one has done. It means providing an explanation or rationale to oneself, to clients, to peers, to the nursing profession, and to society. In order to be accountable, nurses act under a code of ethical conduct that is grounded in the moral principles of fidelity and respect for the dignity, worth and self-determination of clients. The nursing profession continues to develop ways to clarify nursing's accountability to society.
Nurses are accountable for judgments made and actions taken in the course of nursing practice.
Neither physicians' orders nor the employing agency's policies relieve the nurse of accountability for actions taken and judgments made. The nurse exercises informed judgment and uses individual competency and qualifications as criteria in seeking consultation, accepting responsibilities, and delegating nursing activities. 6.1 Changing Functions Nurses are faced with decisions in the context of the increased complexity of health care, changing patterns in the delivery of health services, and the development of evolving nursing practice in response to the health needs of clients. As the scope of nursing practice changes, the nurse must exercise judgment in accepting responsibilities, seeking consultation, and assigning responsibilities to others who carry out nursing care. The nurse must not engage in practices prohibited by law or delegate to others activities prohibited by practice acts of other health care personnel or by other laws.