Code of Ethics

Code of Ethics

➢ A set of principles, established by a

profession, to guide an individual
practitioner.
➢ A formal statement of the ethical
values and principles that are shared
by member of a group. It provides
standards for professional actions.

It gives guidance in terms of ethical

accountability within the scope of
professional ethics. In the Phil, the Code of
Ethics is legally binding. The COR of RN shall
be revoked or suspended for any violation
ICN CODE OF ETHICS
of the Code of Ethics for RN. HEALTH- is a fundamental right of every
BRIEF HISTORY OF CODE OF ETHICS FOR individual. The Filipino RN, believing in the
worth and dignity of each human being,
FILIPINO NURSES
recognizes the primary responsibility to
1982 developed by Dean Julita preserve health at all costs. Assistance
V. Sotejo towards peaceful death shall be her
obligation.
1984 Res. No 633 “promotion of
spiritual environment” 5th To assume this responsibility, RN have to
fold responsibility of nurse. gain knowledge and understanding of
man’s Cultural, Social, Spiritual.
1989 promulgated by PNA and
Physiological, Ecological aspects of illness
approved by PRC under
utilizing the therapeutic process.
Board Resolution No 1955.
Cultural diversity and political and
Oct. 25, approved in the general socioeconomic status are inherent factors
1990 assembly of the PNA during to effective nursing care.
the Nurses Week
Convention.

Oct 23, adopted by RA 9173 and Fundamental Principles of RN

2003 (Iloilo) promulgated by BON under
• Promotion of health
Res No. 220 Series of 2004
• Prevention of illness
last July 14, 2004.
• Alleviation of suffering
• Restoration of health

The new Code of Ethics for Registered 5 FOLDS RESPONSIBILITY OF NURSES

Nurses was promulgated by the Board of • Nursing universality
Nursing in coordination with the Philippine • Scope of services rendered by the
Nurses Association nurses
• Responsibilities to people
• Responsibilities to practice, to
society, to their co-workers, and to
the profession
• Promotion of spiritual environment

Inherent in nursing is respect for life, dignity,

and rights of humanity. Its unrestricted by
consideration of nationality, race, color,
age gender, politics, or social status.
 RN AND PEOPLE • Not allow themselves to be used in
• Consider the individuality and totality advertisement that should demean
of patients when they administer the image of the profession.
care. • Decline any gift, favor or hospitality
• Respect the spiritual beliefs and which might be interpreted as
practices of patients regarding diet capitalizing on patients.
and treatment. • Avoid any abuse of the privilege
• Uphold the rights of individuals. relationship which exists with patients
• Take into consideration the culture and of the privilege access allowed
and values of patients in providing to their property, residence or
nursing care. workplace.
• Not demand and receive any
commission, fee or emolument for
RN AND PRACTICE recommending or referring patient;
and not to pay any commission, fee
• Know the definition and scope of or other compensations to the one
nursing practice (RA 9173 and IRR) referring or recommending a patient
• Be aware of the duties and to them for nursing care.
responsibilities in the practice of their
profession. RN AND CO-WORKERS
• Acquire and develop the necessary • Maintain professional role/identity.
competence in knowledge, skills and • Conform with group activities based
attitudes. on acceptable, ethico-legal
• Administrator is responsible in standards.
providing environment for the • Contribute to the professional
growth and development of RN growth and development.
• Actively participate in professional
• Specialty certification are accredited organizations.
through the Nursing Specialty Certification • Not act in any manner prejudicial to
Council of BON. other profession.
• Quality nursing care and practice meet • Honor and safeguard the reputation
the optimum standard of safe nursing and dignity of the members.
practice. • Respects the rights of co-workers.
• Modification of practice shall consider the
principles of safe nursing practice. RN, SOCIETY, AND ENVIRONMENT
• Be conscious of their obligations as
• Be normally and legally responsible citizens
for devising a system of minimizing • Be equipped with knowledge of
occurrences of ineffective and health resources within the
unlawful nursing practice. community, and take active roles in
• Records shall be available to PHC.
professional who have directly • Actively participate in programs,
involved in their care and when they projects and activities that respond
are required by law. to the problems of society.
• Respect the “Patients Bill of Rights” • Lead their lives in conformity with the
• Provide all pertinent information principles of right conduct and
• Uphold the patients rights when proper decorum.
conflict arises • Project an image that will uplift the
• Perform duties in conformity with nursing profession at all times.
existing laws, rules, regulations,
measures and generally accepted RN AND THE PROFESSION
principles of moral conduct and • Be members of the Accredited
proper decorum. Professional Organization (PNA).
• Strictly adhere to nursing standards.
 • Participate actively in growth and • Review the records pertaining to
development of the nursing his/her medical care and to have
profession the information explained or
• Strive to secure equitable socio- interpreted as necessary except
economic and work conditions in when restricted by law.
nursing through appropriate • Expect that, within its capacity and
legislation and other means. policies, a hospital will make
• Assert for the implementation of reasonable response to the request
labor and work standards. of a patient for appropriate and
medically indicated care and
services.
Patient’s Bill of Rights • Ask and be informed of the
existence of business relationships
The patient has the right to: among the hospital, educational
• considerate and respectful care. institutions, other health care
• to obtain from physicians and other providers, or prayers that may
direct caregivers relevant, current, influence the patient’s treatment
and understandable information and care.
concerning diagnosis, treatment • Consent to or decline to participate
and prognosis. in propose research studies or
Except Emergency Case when treatment is human experimentation affecting his
urgent. Know the identity of health team care and treatment or requiring
(doctor, nurse, students, residents or direct patient involvement, and to
trainees). Know the immediate and long- have those studies fully explained
term financial implications of treatment prior to consent.
choices. • Expect reasonable continuity of care
• Make decisions about: when appropriate and to be
o the plan of care prior to and informed by physicians and other
during the course of treatment caregivers of available and realistic
o to refuse a recommended patient care options when hospital
treatment or plan of care to the care is no longer appropriate.
extent permitted by law and • Be informed of hospital policies and
hospital policy practices that relate to patient care,
o to be informed of the medical treatment, and responsibilities.
consequences of this action.
• Have an advance directive (living
will, health care) concerning
Rights of the Patients
treatment or designating a surrogate
decision maker with the expectation • Privacy
that the hospital will honor the intent • Autonomy
of that directive to the extent • Treatment Refusal
permitted by law and hospital • Information
policy. • Education
• Every consideration of his privacy. • Not to be restrained
• To be treated with confidentiality
o Case discussion,
• Services
o consultation,
o examination and treatment
• Expect that all communications and NURSE’S BILL OF RIGHTS
records pertaining to his/her care
➢ Right to practice in a manner that
should be treated as confidential by
fulfills their obligations to society and
the hospital, expect in cases such as
those who receive nursing care.
suspected public health hazards
➢ Right to practice in environment that
where reporting is permitted or
allow them to act in accordance
required by law.
 with professional standards and
legally authorized scopes of 5. One who acts through an agent is himself
practice. responsible.
➢ Right to a work environment that Ex. A patient wants to have an abortion,
supports and facilitates ethical and ask a nurse if she can do it. The nurse
practice, in accordance with the refuses, but then recommends a doctor
Code of ethics for Nurses. who is capable of performing an abortion.
➢ Right to freely and openly advocate The nurse becomes liable to such crime,
for themselves and their patients since he/she is an accomplice of the said
without fear of retribution. doctor.
➢ Right to fair compensation for their
work, consistent with their 6. No one is obliged to betray
knowledge, experience and himself/herself.
professional responsibilities In testifying before a court, no one can
➢ Right to a work environment that is force any person to answer a question if
safe for themselves and their such will incriminate him/her
patients
➢ Right to negotiate the condition of 7. The end does not justify the means
their employment, either as Giving a sleeping tablet to a chronically ill
individuals or collectively in all person so he/she can die in peace is
practice setting. morally wrong.

8. Defects of nature may be corrected

Patients with harelip or cleft palate may
have their defects corrected by plastic
MORAL AND SPIRITUAL surgery.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE NURSE
9. If one is willing to cooperate in the act,
no injustice is done to him/her.
1. The Golden Rule. -- “Do unto others what -> Suppose a pt subjects herself willingly to
you would like others do unto you”. an experimental drug and she has been
told of the possible effects of the same, is of
2. The Two –Fold Effect right age and is sane, there is no violation of
Basis of Action: human rights
➢ The action must be morally good.
➢ The good effect must be willed and 10. A little more or less does not change the
bad effect merely allowed. substance of an act.
➢ The good effect must be not come -> If a nurse gets medicine from a hospital
from an evil action but from the stock w/out permission, he will be guilty of
initial action itself directly. theft even if he got only one tablet of the
➢ The good effect must have a greater same
effect than the bad effect.
11. The greatest good for the greatest
3. The Principle of Totality. The whole is number
greater than any of its parts. During an epidemic, immunization against
communicable disease is administered to
4. Epikia. “Exception to the general rule” people. Although some have slight
-> It is a reasonable presumption that the reactions to vaccine, the greater majority
authority making the law will not wish to shall consider rather than few
bind a person in some particular case,
even though the case is covered by the 12. No one is held to the impossible
letter of the law. To promise that a pt with heart transplant
will live may be impossibility.
 • Serve others; prepared for heroic
sacrifice and genuine selflessness.
13. The morality of cooperation
2. Integrity and Objectivity
Formal cooperation in an evil act is never
• Maintain and broaden public
allowed. Immoral operations such as
confidence by performing their
abortion shall not be participated upon by
responsibilities with higher sense of
a nurse if the doctor command it.
integrity and imbued with
nationalism and spiritual values.
14. Principle relating to the origin and
• Maintain objectivity at all times, be
destruction of life. “Thou shall not kill”.
free of conflicts of interest and
One of the Gods commandments
refrain from engaging in any activity
that would prejudice their abilities.
CODE OF GOOD GOVERNANCE
• Avoid making any representation
that would likely cause a reasonable
June 23, 2003- under E.O. No.220
person to misunderstand or be
adopts its policies with regards to the
deceived.
professional standard and principles
designed to enhance and maintain high
3. Professional competence
professional, technical and ethical
• Keep up with new knowledge and
standards in the practice of the professions.
techniques.
• Continually improve their skills and
❖ promote ethical awareness and upgrade their level of competence
competency among Filipino and take part in a lifelong CPE.
professionals,
❖ keep abreast with modern trends
4. Solidarity and Teamwork
and technology thereby
• Spirit of solidarity – each member
❖ assuring the highly qualitative and
should put the broader interest of
globally competitive professional
the profession above one’s personal
services,
ambition and preference.
❖ and secure the safety and
protection of the public.
• Teamwork – each member shall
effectively observe ethical practices
and pursue continuing professional
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF PROFESSIONAL development as well as deepen
CONDUCT one’s social and civic responsibility.
➢ Ethical Awareness – refers to the
ability to discern between right and 5. Social and Civic Responsibility
wrong. • Serve clients with professional
➢ Ethical Competency – pertains to the concerns and in a manner consistent
ability to engage in sound moral with their responsibilities to society.
reasoning and consider carefully the • Actively contribute to the attainment
implications of alternative actions of the country’s national objectives.

6. Global Competitiveness
SPECIFIC PRINCIPLES OF PROFESSIONAL • Remain open to the challenges
CONDUCT • Rise up to global standards and fully
aligned with global best practices
• Specific Principles of Professional
1. Service to others Conduct
• Committed to a life of service to
others. 7. Equality of all Professions
• Protect life, property and public • Treat colleagues with respect
welfare.
 • No one group of professionals is
superior or above others
• Treat other professionals with respect
and fairness

The Nurse’s Pledge

In full knowledge of the obligations I am undertaking, I promise before God and
this assembly, to care for the sick with dedication, and with all the skills and
understanding I possess, without regard to race, creed, color, politics, or social status,
sparing no effort to conserve life, to alleviate sufferings and promote health.

I will respect at all times, the dignity and religious belief of patients under my
care, holding in confidence all personal information’s entrusted to me and refraining
from any action, which might endanger life or health.

I will endeavor to keep my professional knowledge and skills at the highest level,
and to give loyal support and cooperation to all members of the health team.

I will do my utmost, to honor the International Code of Ethics applied to nursing

and uphold the integrity of the professional nurse.