Essential Psychiatry: A guide to important principles for nurses and laboratory technicians

1.0 Introduction 1.1 Philosophy 1.2 Ethics 1.3 Ethical aspects of nursing 1.4 Code of ethics 1.5 Personal aspects of illness 1.6 Social aspects of illness 1.7 Economic aspects of illness 1.8 Summary 1.0 Introduction As a nurse you are going to be caring for other people, many of whom may be very ill and distressed. Some may have lost their ability to reason, whilst others may never have had this facility. This has a number of effects. For example, it may give rise to personal fears, anxieties and bewilderment, or to aggression and destructive­ ness. It causes social upsets within the family, at work and in society. Coupled with this are the economic effects, first to the individual and secondly to the community. From the nurse's point of view, all these aspects are important but there are two aspects which are of particular importance. In order to do your job well you will need a lot of knowledge and this will mean much study. You will, after a time, look upon increasing your knowledge as a pleasure to be enjoyed and not as a chore to be endured. This love of knowledge, or more precisely, love of wisdom is called Philosophy. During your professional career you will be forming relationships with other people. Your relationships are going to be different, in one important respect, from ordinary relationships, because of the mental state of those with whom you will relate.