Ethics, the concern over right and wrong, is a major part of the nursing profession. Nurses care for the lives of countless of patients, everyday and everywhere, and this important job requires that countless of decisions be made. A lot of these decisions are a matter of life and death, brining the concern over what is right and what is wrong in the sphere of the nursing profession. What is right for the patient? What is wrong for the patient? And what must be done?

As defined by the American Nurses Association (ANA), “nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of heath and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities and populations” (American Nurses Association, 2014). Guides, such as the Code of Ethics for Nurses, aim to assist workers in the nursing profession, determining and defining their everyday conduct. It establishes the difference between what is right and what is wrong. An ethical code drives decisions, and although an internal application, can affect and be affected by laws or regulations. Whether an ethical code is official or not is determined by some authoritative figure.

It is certainly unsurprising that a single profession – though albeit a complex one – has incited the publication of various codes of ethics. Nursing is a very intrusive profession, one that deals so closely with the lives of others. When individuals so closely interact, boundaries must be determined and formed. Ethics in nursing has been discussed by writer Colleen Moore. In her article, “Ethics in Nursing: Deciding What Is Right and Wrong,” she explores the complex decisions nurses must make when it is a matter of life and death. And because nurses deal with valuable lives, their decisions are more often called into question or put under scrutiny. There is a level of selflessness required. But exactly how can such a subjective factor be measured? There are also multiple perspectives on one issue. It is likely that the decision of one nurse can be seriously called into question by another one, even if that nurse believed he or she was acting selflessly.

The complexity of ethics has led to many safeguards regarding this issue. The organization, ANA, was founded in 1896 to advance and to protect the nursing profession. The association represents registered nurses in the United States, “establishing standards of nursing practice, promoting the rights of nurses in the workplace, and advancing the economic and general welfare of nurses” (American Nurses Association, 2014). Based in Silver Spring, Maryland, the ANA also delves into nursing research and education.

The Code of Ethics for Nurses is a guide developed by the American Nurses Association (ANA). The ANA Code of Ethics fixates on standards, policy, and practice. The organization asserts that their process employs a bottom-up approach – ensuring that their statements are current and representative. When faced with a problem, “members are nominated to a working group that thoroughly researches the issue and writes a statement before going to the ANA for final approval” (American Nurses Association, 2014). The ANA Code of Ethics has provisions for numerous concerns, including but not limited to (1) respect for human dignity, (2) conflict of interest for nurses, (3) privacy and confidentiality, and (4) delegation of nursing activities.

However, the ANA Code of Ethics is not uniform for the entirety of society. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has also published its own Code of Ethics for Nurses, revised in 2012. According to ICN, “it is a guide for action based on social values and needs, and has served as the standard for nurses worldwide” (International Council of Nurses, 2012). The standards outlined within the ICN Code of Ethics for Nurses are divided into four main elements: (1) nurses and people, (2) nurses and practice, (3) nurses and the profession, and (4) nurses and co-workers. Like the ANA Code, the ICN Code is intended for everyday use, and for the protection of the integrity of the profession.

Society is driven by the notion of morality, what is right and what is wrong. And when a profession is so interconnected with the workings of society, morality is a monumental concern. Therefore, it makes absolute sense that the nursing community has varies codes and institutions in place. These safeguards establish and enforce the rules of ethics, protection the profession from unwanted and untrue attacks. And it is important to protect this profession because lives are constantly being cared for and being saved because of these health care professionals.