Question

what is the relationship between autonomy and accountability in nursing?

Answer 1

Autonomy means right of self government or act independently.

Accountability means an individual is responsible for his action .

In nursing sometimes the professionals have to take decision by themselves in patient care .. This is autonomy . Eg - a new mother can't feed her baby breast properly ,here the nurse can teach the breast feeding technique autonomously to the mother . Here she need not to follow order of others . But autonomy leads to accountability . If the baby can't suck properly , or face respiratory distress due to weight of the mother's breast then the nurse is only one who is accountable for this .It means she is unable to teach proper breast feeding technique.. accountability gives empowerment , gives confidence , built leadership charecter within a person. Accountability is the prior condition of being autonomus. Autonomus nurse are accountable for their work their practices . Hence autonomy and accountability are very much related, one can't be completed without another