ANA Code of Ethics: James Madison University

Presentation
NSG-462
Prof. Andrews

Viktoriia Kafando
ANA’s Code of Ethics for Nurses with
Interpretive Statements (“the Code”)
 Conveys shared ethical values, obligations, duties and ideals of
nurses individually and collectively
 Provides an implied contract with the public
 Informs society of the moral values and ideals by which it
functions
 Informs new professionals of the expected moral behaviors
 Guides the profession in self-regulation
 Provides a framework for ethical decision-making
 Is unapologetic, aspirational and nonnegotiable

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1.1 Respect for Human Dignity
Patient dignity is the foundation of nursing ethics.
Dignity is inherent, not “earned.”

A patient never loses dignity, e.g., when comatose, delirious, frail, or in an

altered state.
A nurse must approach every patient with respect for dignity, regardless of

personal attributes, health state, or any other situational or patient

variable.

Source: Ferrell, B.R., & Coyle, N. (2008). The nature of suffering and the goals of nursing. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

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1.4 The Right to Self-Determination

Patients have a right to decide for themselves.

 The patient, and decisions made by the patient, are to be
respected regardless of personal attributes of the patient,
conflicting values, or circumstances.

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1.5 Relationships With Colleagues and Others
Interdisciplinary
 All colleagues, including unlicensed personnel

Inter-professional
 All licensed colleagues (medicine, pharmacy, social
workers, dieticians, PT, OT, RT, etc.)
Trans-professional
 Licensed colleagues working together on a team across
fields of expertise

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4.2 Accountability for Nursing Judgments,
Decisions, and Actions
 Fidelity (loyalty, including keeping
promises, honoring agreements,
performing competently, etc.)
 Veracity (truth-telling; non-
deception)
 Beneficence (doing what benefits
the patient)
 Nonmaleficence (non-infliction of
harm)

Beauchamp & Childress, 2013

Legacy of the Code
 Commitment to service is the most precious ideal of the
nursing profession.
 The Code supports ideals of nursing’s service.
 The Code guides all nurses in living out the values and ideals
of the profession.
 The Code is a living, ongoing legacy of core values from
Florence Nightingale in 1850 to 2015 and beyond.

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Virtues Specific to Nursing
 Wisdom
 Patience
 Compassion
 Honesty
 Altruism
 Courage
 References

• American Nurses Association. (2015). Guide to the Code of Ethics

for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. American Nurses
Association.