of Ethics Online Collection: 2006
Code for Nurses
Ethical Concepts Applied to Nursing
1973
The fundamental responsibility of the nurse is fourfold : to promote health, to prevent illness, to restore health and to alleviate suffering.
The need for nursing is universal. Inherent in nursing is respect for life, dignity and rights of man. It is unrestricted by considerations of nationality, race, creed, colour, age, sex, politics or social status.
Nurses render health services to the individual, the family and the community and coordinate their services with those of related groups.
Nurses and People
The nurse's primary responsibility is to those people who require nursing care.
The nurse, in providing care, promotes an environment in which the values, customs and spiritual beliefs of the individual are respected.
The nurse holds in confidence personal information and uses judgement in sharing this information.
Nurses and Practice
The nurse carries personal responsibility for nursing practice and
for maintaining competence by continual learning.
The nurse maintains the highest standards of nursing care possible within the reality of a specific situation.
The nurse uses judgement in relation to individual competence when accepting and delegating responsibilities. The nurse when acting in a professional capacity should at all times maintain standards of personal conduct which reflect credit upon the profession.
Nurses and Society
The nurse shares with other citizens the responsibility for initiating
and supporting action to meet the health and social needs of the public.
Nurses and Co-Workers
The nurse sustains a cooperative relationship with coworkers in nursing
and other fields.
The nurse takes appropriate action to safeguard the individual when his care is endangered by a co-worker or any other person.
Nurses and the Profession
The nurse plays the major role in determining and implementing desirable
standards of nursing practice and nursing education.
The nurse is active in developing a core of professional knowledge.
The nurse, acting through the professional organization, participates in establishing and maintaining equitable social and economic working conditions in nursing.
Code for Nurses
Ethical Concepts Applied to Nursing
It was at the meeting of the Grand Council of the International Council of
Nurses (ICN) in Sao Paulo, Brazil, July 1953, that an international code of
ethics for nurses was first adopted. The Grand Council subsequently revised
the Code at its meeting in Frankfurt, Germany, June 1965.
The Code for Nurses, as printed here, was produced by the Professional Services Committee and adopted by the ICN Council of National Representatives in Mexico City in May 1973.
All rights, including that of translation into other languages, reserved. Photomechanic reproduction (photocopy, microcopy) of this document or part thereof without special permission of ICN is prohibited.
Copyright 1973 by International Council of Nurses, Geneva. Printed in Switzerland by Imprimeries Populaires, Geneva.
