ANA Code – Ethics (Nursing)

00:00 Welcome back everyone.

00:02 To practice confidently and with integrity, today's nurses must have in place several key elements that guide the profession such as an accreditation process for education, a regular system for licensure and certification and a relevant code of ethics.

00:18 The American Nurses' Association has guided and supported nursing practice to creation and implementation of a nationally accepted code of ethics for nurses with interprative statements.

00:30 The origins of the code of ethics for nurses reach back to the late 1800s in the foundation of the American Nurses Association.

00:37 The early ethics literature of modern nursing and the first nursing code of ethics which was formally adopted by the ANA in 1950.

00:46 The code of ethics for nurses is a reflection of the proud ethical heritage of nursing and a guide for all nurses now and into the future.

00:55 Let's talk a little bit about the code.

00:57 It establishes the ethical standard for the profession.

01:01 It provides a guide for nurses to use in ethical analysis and decision making.

01:08 It is non-negotiable.

01:11 It serves as a foundation of nursing theory and practice.

01:15 It makes explicit the primary obligations, values and ideals of the nursing profession.

01:22 It informs every aspect of a nurse's life.

01:26 And finally, it's dynamic.

01:29 It's always changing as the profession evolves.

01:32 So let's cover the provisions of the code.

01:35 First, the nurse practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth and unique attributes of each person.

01:44 Number 2 - , the nurse's primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, a family, a group, community or a population.

01:56 Number 3 - the nurse promotes, advocates for and protects the rights, health and safety of the patient.

02:05 Number 4 - nurse has the authority, accountability and responsibility for nursing practice; makes decisions and takes action consistent with the obligation to promote health and provide optimal care.

02:19 Number 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.

02:35 Number 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.

02:49 Number 7 - the nurse, in all roles and settings, advances the profession through research and scholarly inquiry, professional standards and development, and the generation of both nursing and health policy.

03:03 Number 8 - the nurse collaborates with other health professionals and the public to protect human rights, promote health diplomacy and reduce health disparities.

03:14 And finally, number 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.

03:30 I hope you've enjoyed today's video on the ANA code of ethics.

03:33 Thanks so much for watching.