Introduction: For this assignment, the Code of Ethics chosen is the Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements (2015) by the American Nurses Association (ANA). This Code of Ethics provides guidance to nurses and nursing students in their ethical obligations, professional relationships, and responsibilities when delivering care to patients. The Code of Ethics is composed of nine provisions and is widely considered as the cornerstone of nursing ethics in the United States.
Overview of the Code of Ethics: The Code of Ethics for Nurses is a set of guidelines that provides a framework for ethical nursing practice. The code begins with a preamble that highlights the importance of ethical practice in nursing and the responsibility of nurses to uphold the profession’s ethical standards. The nine provisions of the code are as follows:
- The nurse practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes of every person.
- The nurse’s primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, community, or population.
- The nurse promotes, advocates for, and protects the rights, health, and safety of the patient.
- The nurse has authority, accountability, and responsibility for nursing practice; makes decisions; and takes action consistent with the obligation to promote health and to provide optimal care.
- The nurse owes the same duties to self as to others, including the responsibility to promote health and safety.
- The nurse maintains the integrity of the profession by acting with honesty and providing accurate and appropriate information in all aspects of nursing practice.
- The nurse advances the profession through research and scholarly inquiry, professional standards development, and the generation of both nursing and health policy.
- The nurse collaborates with other health professionals and the public to protect human rights, promote health diplomacy, and reduce health disparities.
- The profession of nursing, collectively through its professional organizations, must articulate nursing values, maintain the integrity of the profession, and integrate principles of social justice into nursing and health policy.
Importance of the Code of Ethics to the Profession: The Code of Ethics is important to the nursing profession because it provides a framework for nurses to deliver quality care that is respectful of the patient’s dignity and rights. The code guides nurses in their ethical decision-making, helping them to navigate complex ethical dilemmas that may arise in the course of their work. The code is also important because it defines the standards of behavior that are expected of nurses and helps to maintain the integrity of the profession.
Missing Areas in the Code of Ethics: The Code of Ethics for Nurses does not explicitly address some areas that are relevant to the nursing profession. For instance, the code does not provide guidance on how to deal with conflicts of interest that may arise in the course of nursing practice. Although the code emphasizes the importance of advocacy and protecting patients’ rights, it does not provide specific guidance on how to advocate for patients effectively. This could be addressed by adding more interpretive statements that address these areas.
Ethical Principles Mentioned in the Code of Ethics: The Code of Ethics for Nurses discusses several ethical principles that were discussed earlier in this course. For example, the principle of autonomy is discussed in the first provision of the code, which emphasizes the importance of respecting the inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes of every person. The principle of beneficence is also discussed in the code, which emphasizes the nurse’s primary commitment to the patient and the obligation to promote health and provide optimal care. Additionally, the principle of non-maleficence is discussed in the code, which emphasizes the responsibility of nurses to protect the patient’s health and safety.
Importance of the Code of Ethics for Health Professionals: The Code of Ethics is essential for all health professionals because it provides a framework for ethical decision-making and guides professionals in their ethical obligations and responsibilities. Ethical practice is essential in
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