In an orientation handout about accountability and responsibility, which description best defines responsibilities in nursing?

Responsibilities in nursing encompass the obligation to provide care that meets the basic needs of clients. This means that nurses are expected to attend to patients’ fundamental health requirements, such as hygiene, nutrition, mobility, and vital sign monitoring, ensuring that they receive the appropriate and timely care essential for their recovery and well-being.

While the other options touch on important aspects of nursing practice, they do not specifically capture the essence of responsibilities. An internal obligation to others refers more to personal values and ethics, which, although crucial, do not directly define the responsibilities assigned to nursing professionals in a practical context. The duty to report quality of work is more aligned with accountability and performance evaluation rather than the direct responsibilities of caring for patients. Shared team objectives hint at collaborative goals but do not fundamentally define the individual responsibilities of nurses, which focus on the care of their clients and the tasks they must complete as part of their role.

Therefore, the definition that best encapsulates the core responsibilities in nursing is the commitment to attending to clients' basic care needs.