¶ … medical field to understand the significance of being honest under all circumstances. Accountability and responsibility are key factors in making a good medical professional. Honesty while it's important needs to be toned down to make it more acceptable to the patient. Brutal honesty is not needed in the nursing profession, it can make the condition worse and hence truth must be delivered in an acceptable manner according to the circumstances. "Brutal honesty may undermine the respect of the dignity of the patient to receive information in a way and at a time that is appropriate for him or her." (Caulfield, p. 41) Honesty, accountability and responsibility are values we all understand but within the framework of nursing practice, their meaning may go a lot deeper. A nurse is accountable for her actions...

The first most important pillar is of course the professional accountability. This is connected to nurse's professional conduct in relation to her work involving her patients. For this she must conform to the guidelines provided by major bodies that develop the professional code of conduct for nurses. These guidelines are based on the solid principle that each nurse is responsible for her own actions and omissions, regardless of advice received from another professional.
The second important pillar is ethical accountability. This is related to ethical behavior that a nurse needs to conform to in order to perform her duties in a socially acceptable…