What are the nine provisions of the Code of Ethics for Nurses?
Back in nursing school, you were expected to know the Nursing Code of Ethics backwards and forwards. In fact, you were probably able to recite it by heart at some point. But if you've been out of school for a while, some of the details might be a little fuzzy now. In any event, it never hurts to get a refresher on something like the Code. This easy-to-read breakdown will help you re-familiarize yourself with the Nursing Code of Ethics and its key concepts. Show
Note that this guide only deals with the national Code of Ethics that's recognized in the United States. If you have the time, you might also want to familiarize yourself with the international code as well. What Is the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses?In 1950, the American Nurses Association (ANA) created the first “Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements,” known commonly as the Nursing Code of Ethics, in order to help nurses successfully navigate a variety of healthcare scenarios. Think of it as a document that formalizes the behaviors expected of nurses. When facing an ethical or moral dilemma, nurses can refer to the Code to guide their on-the-job decision-making processes. Breaking Down the ANA Nursing Code of EthicsCurrently, the Code has nine provisions and 35 interpretive statements that outline how nurses should behave both in and out of the workplace. Given how lengthy it is, we’ve consolidated all of the information you absolutely need to know about it. First, we'll highlight the nine provisions that form the structure of the Code of Ethics. Then, we'll add on each provision's corresponding interpretive statements, which should help give you a better idea of the ANA's intent for each of the nine expectations it has of nurses. The 9 Provisions of the Nursing Code of Ethics
The 9 Provisions & 35 Interpretive Statements of the Code of EthicsPROVISION 1: “The nurse practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes of every person.”
PROVISION 2: “The nurse’s primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, community, or population.”
PROVISION 3: “The nurse promotes, advocates for, and protects the rights, health, and safety of the patient.”
PROVISION 4: “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.”
PROVISION 5: “The nurse owes the same duties to self as to others, including the responsibility to promote health and safety, preserve wholeness of character and integrity, maintain competence, and continue personal and professional growth."
PROVISION 6: “The nurse, through individual and collective effort, establishes, maintains, and improves the ethical environment of the work setting and conditions of employment that are conducive to safe, quality health care [sic].”
PROVISION 7: “The nurse, in all roles and settings, advances the profession through research and scholarly inquiry, professional standards development, and the generation of both nursing and health policy.”
PROVISION 8: “The nurse collaborates with other health professionals and the public to protect human rights, promote health diplomacy, and reduce health disparities.”
PROVISION 9: “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.”
12 Resources for Learning More About Ethical Issues in NursingIf you’re interested in learning more about the Nursing Code of Ethics, or about other ethical issues in nursing, here’s a list of some great publications that you should check out: What are the key provisions of the Code of Ethics for Nurses?Providing optimal care for patients in need, and assuming accountability to provide the best care possible. Safeguarding their own health, safety, and integrity as a nurse. Promoting ethics and integrity in the workplace. Committing to continuous learning and growth within the nursing profession.
What does provision 9 of the ANA Code of Ethics mean?Provision 9: 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.
What is a provision in the Code of Ethics?What are Common Code Provisions? Common code provisions are the specific standards of behavior and performance expectations that your organization chooses to highlight and address in your code. Code provisions can be brief or comprehensive depending on the objective.
What are the 10 nursing ethical values?The search yielded 10 nursing ethical values: Human dignity, privacy, justice, autonomy in decision making, precision and accuracy in caring, commitment, human relationship, sympathy, honesty, and individual and professional competency.
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