NURSING CODE OF ETHICS Ethics is an integral part of the foundation of nursing. Nursing has a distinguished history of concern for the welfare of the sick, injured, and vulnerable and for social justice. This concern is embodied in the provision of nursing care to individuals and the community. Nursing encompasses the prevention of illness, the alleviation of suffering, and the protection, promotion, and restoration of health in the care of individuals, families, groups, and communities. Nurses act to change those aspects of social structures that detract from health and well-being. Individuals who become nurses are expected not only to adhere to the ideals and moral norms of the profession but also to embrace them as a part of what it means to be a nurse. The ethical tradition of nursing is self-reflective, enduring, and distinctive. A code of ethics makes explicit the primary goals, values, and obligations of the profession. Registered Nursing Students in the Registered Nursing Program shall behave in a professional manner, including the classroom, lab, and the clinical setting. A student in violation of this code of conduct will be subjected to disciplinary action and/or dismissal from the program. It is expected that upon graduation from the Registered Nursing Program, the graduate is able to demonstrate compliance with the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses is a succinct statement of the ethical obligations and duties of every individual who enters the nursing profession. It is the profession’s nonnegotiable ethical standard and is an expression of nursing’s own understanding of its commitment to society. Provision 1. The nurse, in all professional relationships, practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and uniqueness of every individual, unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of health problems. 1.1 Respect for human dignity 1.2 Relationships to patients 1.3 The nature of health problems 1.4 The right to self-determination 1.5 Relationships with colleagues and others Provision 2. The nurse’s primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, or community. 2.1 Primacy of the Patient’s Interest 2.2 Conflict of Interest for Nurses 2.3 Collaboration 2.4 Professional Boundaries Provision 3. The nurse promotes, advocates for, and strives to protect the health, safety, and rights of the patient. 3.1 Protection of the Rights of Privacy and Confidentiality 3.2 Protection of Human Participants in Research 3.3 Performance Standards and Review Mechanisms 3.4 Professional Responsibility in Promoting a Culture of Safety 3.5 Protection of Patients Health and Safety by Acting on Questionable Practice 3.6 Patient Protection and Impaired Practice Provision 4. The nurse has authority, accountability, and responsibility for nursing practice; makes decision; and takes action consistent with obligation to promote health and to provide optimal care. 4.1 Authority, Accountability and Responsibility 4.2 Accountability for Nursing Judgment, Decisions, and Action 4.3 Responsibility for Nursing Judgment, Decisions, and Action
40 Sumner College Student Handbook
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