Question

The New 'Code o f Ethics for Nurses W ith Interpretive Statements' (2015): Practical Clinical Application, Part I

What is ANA Code of ethics ????? in this article.

Answer 1

Introduction: The new Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements (ANA, 2015) (Code) was released in January. The second edition was released in April. There are totally nine provisions. They are divided in two part series. In which Part I introduces the Code, discusses the glossary, and explores the first four provisions. The second part of the series continues discussion of the last five provisions.

The nine provisions identify the responsibilities of nurses, while the interpretive statements provide guidance in their application. The first three provisions explain the most basic values and commitments of the nurse. These provisions address the nurse’s duties to respect the patient, unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of health problems. The fourth provision discusses the nurse’s accountability in practice.

Provision I: The nurse practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes of every person.

This provision is more concise. There are five interpretive statements. The first two statements address nurses’ fundamental ethical obligations for patient respect and development of trust between nurse and patient.

The first interpretive statement: respect for human dignity.

The second interpretive statement: identifies relationships with patients.

The third interpretive statement: concerns the nature of health.

The fourth interpretive statement: focuses on the right to self-determination.

The fifth interpretive statement: involves the nurse’s relationships with colleagues and others.

Provision II: The nurse’s primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, community, or population

This provision focuses on the nurse’s obligation to assure the primacy of the patient’s interests regardless of conflicts that arise between clinicians or patient and family.

The first interpretive statement: primacy of the patient’s interests.

The second interpretive statement: involves the conflict of interest for nurses.

The third interpretive statement: relates to collaboration. This collaboration “requires mutual trust, recognition, respect, transparency, shared decision-making and open communication among all who share concern and responsibility for health outcomes.

The fourth interpretive statement: importance of professional boundaries. Nurse-patient and nurse-colleague relationships have as their foundation the promotion, protection, and restoration of health.

Provision III: The nurse promotes, advocates for, and protects the rights, health, and safety of the patient.

This provision focuses on the nurse’s obligation to protect patients from harm.

The first interpretive statement: protection of the rights of privacy and confidentiality.

The second interpretive statement: protection of human participants in research. This addresses the importance of informed consent and the fact participants may decline to participate or withdraw from any research.

The third interpretive statement: performance standards and review mechanisms, the need for nurses to continue their professional development to maintain their competence.

The fourth interpretive statement: professional responsibility in promoting a culture of safety.

The fifth interpretive statement: protection of patient health and safety by acting on questionable practice.

The sixth interpretative statement: focuses on patient protection and impaired practice.

Provision IV: 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.

It has four interpretive statements emphasizing responsibilities and obligations of the professional nurse to his or her patients.

The first interpretative statement: authority, accountability, and responsibility.

The second interpretative statement: accountability for nursing judgments, decisions, and actions.

The third interpretative statement: focuses on responsibility for nursing judgments, decisions, and actions.

The fourth interpretive statement: assignment and delegation of nursing activities or tasks.