c c
cc


c accepting and delegating responsibility. social values and needs. It will have

c
c c The nurse at all times maintains standards of
The nurse¶s primary professional
responsibility is to people requiring
nursing care.
In providing care, the nurse promotes an
environment in which the
human rights, values, customs and spiritual
beliefs of the individual,
family and community are respected.
meaning only as a living document
personal conduct if applied to the realities of nursing and
which reflect well on the profession and health care in a
enhance public confidence. changing society.
The nurse, in providing care, ensures that To achieve its purpose the must be
use of technology and understood, internalised
scientific advances are compatible with the and used by nurses in all aspects of their
safety, dignity and work. It must be available
rights of people. to students and nurses throughout their study
The nurse ensures that the individual 
c
cc and work lives.
receives sufficient information The nurse assumes the major role in  cc c
cc
on which to base consent for care and determining and implementing ï
 ï 


 
related treatment. acceptable standards of clinical nursing The four elements of the ï
 

The nurse holds in confidence personal practice, management, 


: nurses and
information and uses judgement
in sharing this information.
The nurse shares with society the
responsibility for initiating and supporting
action to meet the health and social needs of
the public, in
particular those of vulnerable populations.
The nurse also shares responsibility to
sustain and protect the natural
research and education.
The nurse is active in developing a core of
research-based professional
knowledge.
The nurse, acting through the professional
organisation, participates
in creating and maintaining safe, equitable
social and economic
working conditions in nursing.
people, nurses and practice, nurses and the
profession, and nurses
and co-workers, give a framework for the
standards of conduct. The
following chart will assist nurses to translate
the standards into
action. Nurses and nursing students can
therefore:
‡ Study the standards under each element of
environment from depletion, pollution, 
c
 c the .
degradation and The nurse sustains a co-operative ‡ Reflect on what each standard means to
destruction. relationship with co-workers in you. Think about how you

c
  c nursing and other fields. can apply ethics in your nursing domain:
The nurse carries personal responsibility and The nurse takes appropriate action to practice, education,
accountability for safeguard individuals, families research or management.
nursing practice, and for maintaining and communities when their health is ‡ Discuss the with co-workers and
competence by continual endangered by a coworker others.
learning. or any other person. ‡ Use a specific example from experience to
  identify ethical dilemmas
The nurse maintains a standard of personal 
c
ccï
 and standards of conduct as outlined in the
health such that the ï 


  . Identify
ability to provide care is not compromised. The ï
 



is a how you would resolve the dilemmas.
The nurse uses judgement regarding guide for action based on ‡ Work in groups to clarify ethical decision
individual competence when making and reach a
consensus on standards of ethical conduct. references to human and privacy into
‡ Collaborate with your national nurses¶ rights, equity, justice, a national code of
association, co-workers, solidarity as the basis ethics for nurses.
and others in the continuous application of for access to care. Advocate for safe
ethical standards in Provide teaching and and healthy
nursing practice, education, management learning opportunities environment.
and research. for ethical issues and -
D decision making. c ! "#$
c

c ! "#$
c
 Provide   c
c c teaching/learning %&'((%)&"
%&'((%)&" opportunities
&&*%)

&&*%) related to informed Establish standards
Provide care that consent. of care and a
respects human Introduce into work setting that
rights and is sensitive curriculum concepts promotes safety
to the values, of privacy and confidentiality. and quality care.
customs and beliefs Sensitise students to Establish systems
of all people. the importance of for professional
Provide continuing social action in appraisal, continuing
education in ethical current concerns. education and
issues. &(&+%)), systematic renewal
Provide sufficient ))'(&() of licensure to
information to Develop position practice.
permit informed statements and Monitor and
consent and the guidelines that promote the
right to choose or support human personal health of
refuse treatment. rights and ethical nursing staff in
Use recording and standards. relation to their
information Lobby for involvement competence for
management of nurses in practice.
systems that ensure ethics review c"+'&%)&"
confidentiality. committees. )&%'!%)
Develop and Provide guidelines, Provide
monitor environmental position statements teaching/learning
safety in the and continuing opportunities that
workplace. education related to foster life long
c"+'&%)&" informed consent. learning and
)&%'!%) Incorporate issues competence for
In curriculum include of confidentiality practice.
Conduct and disseminate research, ))'(&()
research education and Collaborate with
that shows links management. others to set
between continual Foster workplace standards for
learning and support of the nursing education,
competence to conduct, practice, research
practice. dissemination and and management.
Promote the utilisation of Develop position
importance of personal research related statements,
health and to nursing and guidelines and
illustrate its relation health. standards related
to other values. Promote participation to nursing
&(&+%)), in national research.
))'(&() nurses¶ associations Lobby for fair
Provide access so as to social and
to continuing create favourable economic working
education, through socio-economic conditions in
journals, conferences, conditions for nursing. Develop
distance nurses. position statements
education, etc. c"+'&%)&" and guidelines in
Lobby to ensure )&%'!%) workplace issues.
continuing education Provide /
opportunities teaching/learning c ! "#$
c

and quality care opportunities in c
standards. setting standards %&'((%)&"
Promote healthy for nursing
&&*%)
lifestyles for practice, research, Create awareness
nursing professionals. education and of specific and
Lobby management. overlapping
for healthy work Conduct, disseminate functions and the
places and and utilise potential for
services for nurses. research to interdisciplinary
. advance the tensions.
c ! "#$
c
 nursing profession. Develop workplace
cc Sensitise learners systems that
%&'((%)&" to the importance support common

&&*%) of professional professional
Set standards for nursing associations. ethical values and
nursing practice, &(&+%)), behaviour.
Develop safeguarding %)&!&!Mental, physical, social
mechanisms to people when their and spiritual wellbeing
safeguard the care is endangered of the nurse.
individual, family by health care %)&Information obtained during
or community personnel. professional
when their care is 0
c
cï
  ( %&(contact that is private to an
endangered by ï 


  individual or family,
health care To be effective the ï
 

 and which, when disclosed, may violate the
personnel.

must be familiar right to privacy, cause inconvenience,
c"+'&%)&" to nurses. We encourage you to help with its embarrassment,
)&%'!%) dissemination to or harm to the individual or family.
Develop understanding schools of nursing, practising nurses, the &"*%+3)pther nurses, health care
of the nursing press and other workers or other professionals
roles of other mass media. The Code should also be providing service to an individual,
workers. disseminated to other family or community and working toward
Communicate health professions, the general public, desired goals.
nursing ethics to consumer and policy-making
other professions. groups, human rights organisations and
Instil in learners employers of nurses.
the need to  c

c
c
safeguard the ï
 ï 


 
individual, family 1%2%pther nurses and other health
or community when and non-health
care is endangered related workers and professionals.
by health care 3%&(4A professional relationship
personnel. based on collegial
&(&+%)), %&()!(3and reciprocal actions, and
))'(&() behaviour that
Stimulate aim to achieve certain goals.
co-operation with &(5A social unit composed of members
other related connected
disciplines. through blood, kinship, emotional or legal
Develop awareness relationships.
of ethical issues of +%))!&%)A nurse, as a health
other professions. professional and a citizen,
Provide guidelines, 1(!)'(5initiates and supports
position statements appropriate action to
and discussion meet the health and social needs of the
fora related to public.