Code of Ethics

• The professional nurse provides services with respect for human dignity and the individuality of the patient, regardless of age, sex, religion, social-economic status, or the nature of the health problem.
  
  
• The professional nurse safeguards the patients' right to privacy by protecting all information of a confidential nature.
  
  
• The professional nurse acts as an advocate to safeguard the patient and public when health care and safety are affected adversely by incompetent, unethical, or negligent practice.
  
  
• The professional nurse is responsible for maintaining and increasing competence in nursing knowledge, practice and skill.
  
  
• The professional nurse assumes responsibility and accountability for individual nursing judgments and actions.
  
  
• The professional nurse exercises clinical judgment based on knowledge, skill and experience, accepts responsibility, seeks guidance through consultation and assigns care responsibility to other caregivers who demonstrate the required competence.
  
  
• The professional nurse participates in activities that contribute to the ongoing development of the profession's body of knowledge, e.g. nursing research.
  
  
• The professional nurse participates in the profession's efforts to set, implement and improve standards of nursing practice, and embodies the concept of continuous quality improvement.
  
  
• The professional nurse participates in the profession's efforts to establish and maintain conditions of employment conducive to the delivery of high quality nursing care.
  
  
• The professional nurse participates in the profession's effort to maintain the integrity of the profession and to enhance the public image of nursing.
  
  
• The professional nurse demonstrates modesty, grace, dignity and caring at all times, when dealing with patients, their families and members of the public.
  
  
• The professional nurse collaborates with members of the health professions and other citizens in enhancing community and national efforts to meet the health needs of society.