Code of Ethics for Nurses: End-of Life Case Study

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The Code of Ethics for Nurses in an important set of guidelines that provides nurses with specific rules and regulations for interacting with patients, colleagues, and society in an ethical, honest, respectful, and effective manner. Nurses should strive to adhere to at all times throughout their career. Having a code of ethics provides health care professionals to provided to their patients with ethical, high quality care.
Ensign (2004) confirms the importance of having and adhering to a code of ethics as follows:
A code of ethics states a profession’s goals, values, and level of commitment to the public and the community which it serves. The development and promulgation of a code of ethics sets a minimum standard of practice to which members are held accountable. The code not only directs practice, but also offers a means of self-regulation by fellow professionals and the development of trust within the community they serve.
The Code of Ethics for Nurses allows health care professionals to have a better understanding of what is expected of them on a daily basis, while also providing assistance when deciding what is right and wrong. While applying the code of ethics in daily life can be challenging at times, students in the field of nursing will greatly benefit from becoming familiar with The Code of Ethics for Nurses early in their career. Susan Stone (2000) illustrates the importance of The Code of Ethics for Nurses, stating that “ In the case of sometimes confusing and questionable nursing situations, it is invaluable to the new health care provider to have a moral and ethical guideline to follow” (p. 49).
Applying the Code of Ethics for Nurses may not always be easy, but it is crucial for nursing students to devel...

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...lishing Company. Retrieved from ehis.ebscohost.com
Edge , R. S., & Groves, J. R. (2006). Ethics of health care. New York: Delmar.
Ensign, M. R. (2004). Ethical issues and the elderly: Guidance for eldercare providers. Retrieved from http://www.ensignlaw.com/Ethical Issues and Elderly.html

Health and Senior Services. (2001). Code of ethics for nurses. Retrieved from http:// health.mo.gov/living/lpha/phnursing/ethics.php

Lachman, V. (2009). Practical use of the nursing code of ethics: Part i. Ethics, Law, and Policy, 18, 55-57. Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/DocumentVault/Ethics/Practical- Use-of-the-Nursing-Code-of-Ethics-Part-I.pdf

Stone, S. (2000). The purpose of a code of ethics and code of conduct for nursing students. Retrieved from http://www.nsna.org/portals/0/skins/nsna/pdf/ pubs_code_of_ethics_and_code_of_conduct.pdf

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