Code of Ethics for Nurses With Interpretive Statements, Coursework Example

Nurses represent one of the most ethically responsible and honest careers that exists, and it is not surprising that Congress is besotted with a poor reputation in this area (Riffkin, 2014). Nurses must be able to contribute at a high level and demonstrate the importance of understanding the dynamics of the practice setting to make ethically responsible decisions on behalf of their patients (Silva & Ludwick, 2006). This reflects the need to understand how core values and ethical decision-making impact patient care and the values that drive the practice environment in different ways that will impact outcomes in a practical manner.

Ethics must be evaluated the context of nursing practice as part of a theory that embodies culture, care, person, healing, the environment and nursing (Johnston, 2009). The ethics of practice require nurses to be successful in recognizing when ethical decisions are necessary due to the context of a specific issue. Therefore, their roles must be appropriate and timely in order to effectively support an ethical process to support decision-making at a high level.

The Code of Ethics, established by the American Nurses Association, reflects the importance of understanding nursing ethics and what is required for nurses to make ethical decisions that are in the best interests of their patients (American Nurses Association, 2011). This reflects a need to understand how nursing science is integrated within the profession and what is required to ensure that nurses are able to address significant issues and problems without delays and with outcomes that will have a lasting impact on patient care and treatment (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2006). It is also important to recognize the value of patient autonomy and how it influences their lives and general wellbeing (Peirce & Smith, 2008). This process supports the need to evaluate areas such as cultural competence in order to fully recognize the value of cultural identity in  how patients are treated within the care environment (Douglas et.al, 2011).

References

American Nurses Association. (2011). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements.

Silver Spring, MD: ANA
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2006, October). The essentials of doctoral education for advanced nursing practice. Washington, DC: AACN.

Johnston, M. J. (2009). Bioethics: A nursing perspective (5th ed.). New York, NY: Elsevier.
Douglas, M. K., Pierce, J. U., Rosenkoetter, M., Pacquiao, D., Callister, L. C., Hattar-Pollara,

M.,…Purnell, L. (2011).Standards of practice for culturally competent nursing care : 2011 update. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 22(4), 317-333. doi:10.1177/1043659611412965

Moser, A., Houtepen, R., van der Brugen, H., Spreeuwenberg, C., & Widdershoven, G. (2009). Autonomous decision making and moral capacities. Nurse Ethics, 16(2), 204-217. doi:10.1177/0969733008100080

Peirce, A. G., & Smith, J. A. (2008). The ethics curriculum for doctor of nursing practice programs. Journal of Professional Nursing, 24(5), 270-274. doi:10.1016/j.profnurs.2007.06.008

Riffkin, R. (2014, December 18). Americans rate nurses highest on honesty, ethical standards. Retrieved from http://www.gallup.com/poll/180260/americans-rate-nurses-highest-honesty-ethical-standards.aspx

Silva, M. C., & Ludwick, R. (2006). Ethics: Is the doctor of nursing practice ethical. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 11(2). doi:10.3912/OJIN.Vol11No02EthCol01