Oaths: Backbone of professionalism, ethics

Oct. 10—Taking an oath of office is common practice with elected officials and professionals like attorneys, nurses, and judges, and a code of ethics is the litmus test in the day-to-day practice of real estate.

Each profession has its own slant with the pledge or oath taken when a person completes training and is ready to join the rank and file, or inaugurated in an elected office.

On Oct. 2, Danny Perry, Ward 1 councilor, took the oath of office for the seat emptied by the resignation of Bree Long. The oath he voiced covered a long list of items to avoid as an elected official.

"That I have not paid or contributed either directly or indirectly, any money or valuable thing to secure my appointment, except for necessary and proper expenses expressly authorized by law," Perry repeated.

The oath also elicits sworn statements such as not knowingly violating election laws, or procured to be done by others, and no free passes for travel or free transportation of any kind to be accepted.

At the state level in political office, Dwayne Pemberton, representing District 9, said the main thing that stuck with him from the oath of office, was the promise to uphold the laws of the United States and Oklahoma — and not to take outside money for the performance of your duties.

"Don't swap your vote for a bribe; that's a big one," Pemberton said.

There is no set way to report a fellow elected official if a person is witness to bribe taking or other misdeed, but Pemberton said he would take his concerns to the pro tempore.

Christy Landsaw, vice president for Northeastern State University in administration and finance, spoke on the oath an employee at NSU must take. The oath is a simple statement swearing support of the laws of the U.S. and the Constitution and laws of Oklahoma.

"As an employee of NSU and state of Oklahoma, I believe we take the oath as a pledge of allegiance to abide by state regulations to the best of our ability," Landsaw said.

In good faith, the state leaders provide direction for higher education for the state, and Landsaw said she is proud to support those efforts.

Valerie Waldrop, a broker with Keller Williams who works selling property in northeast Oklahoma, must follow the code of ethics laid out by the National Association of Realtors. It states that a real estate professional implies competency, fairness, and high integrity resulting from commitment to a "lofty ideal of moral conduct" in business relations. No inducement of profit and no instruction from clients can justify departure from this ideal, states the Code of Ethics.

When a situation arises that creates a conflict with the code, Waldrop will often tell her clients she won't do it, or else let them know her broker won't allow it.

"You just explain, because they might not even understand that they have asked you to cross a line," Waldrop said. "Once someone asks you to cross a line, it puts your guard up, but usually explaining it will clear up any gray lines."

U.S. Code Section 453 — Oaths of justices and judges, lays out the oath for these professionals in short and succinct language. In one long sentence, followed by "so help me God," the person swears respect of people, regardless of status and to faithfully and impartially discharge and perform the duties incumbent upon them.

In the medical field, nurse practitioners pledge to pass their lives in purity and to practice their profession faithfully. And they will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug.

Confidentiality is held to a high standard in the oath, and states the oath taker will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to their keeping and all family affairs coming to their knowledge. Loyalty is added in as a factor in the oath, in endeavoring to aid physiciand in their work and the care and welfare of patients.

Heidi McAlester works as a nurse at McAlester Regional Health Center. McAlester deals with patient confidentiality in her work.

Patients are given a code word that is in their records, and those family members or friends must have that code to be apprised of a patient's medical information.

"People get angry and you have to be really strong and not give out that information," McAlester said.

Greg Forrester is a nurse practitioner in northwest Arkansas, who works in the mental health field.

"I think about that oath every day," Forrester said. "It is fundamental of what we do as nurses."

Elevating patients above self, and providing the best services and treatment the professional can is fundamental in their everyday work, Forrester said.

That feeling in the gut, the intuition, that a professional acknowledges when a not so clear-cut matter has been broached, is enough to keep many in line with integrity in their actions.

"I think you always have to be aware of that," Forrester said. "There are times where you have to sit back and question, is this really in line with the oath I took and in the patient's best interest or is this something that could be crossing the line."

Sometimes, this is because it might be quicker or the risk outweighs the benefits, and a nurse must pay attention to those subconscious alerts, Forrester said.