The ICN Code of Ethics for Nurses.

An international code of ethics for nurses was first adopted by the

International Council of Nurses (ICN) in 1953. It has been revised

and reaffirmed at various times since, most recently with this

review and revision completed in 2005.

PREAMBLE

Nurses have four fundamental responsibilities : 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 human rights, including cultural

rights, the right to life and choice, to dignity and to be treated with

respect. Nursing care is respectful of and unrestricted by consider-

ations of age, colour, creed, culture, disability or illness, gender,

sexual orientation, nationality, politics, race or social status.

Nurses render health services to the individual, the family and the

community and co-ordinate their services with those of related

groups.

THE ICN CODE

The ICN Code of Ethics for Nurses

Has four principal elements that

Outline the standards of ethical conduct.

ELEMENTS OF THEODE

1. NURSES AND PEOPLE

The nurse’s primary professional responsibility is to people requiring

nursing care.

In providing care, the nurse promotes an environment in which the

human rights, values, customs and spiritual beliefs of the individual,

family and community are respected.

The nurse ensures that the individual receives sufficient information

on which to base consent for care and related treatment.

The nurse holds in confidence personal information and uses judge-

ment in sharing this information.

The nurse shares with society the responsibility for initiating and sup-

porting action to meet the health and social needs of the public, in

particular those of vulnerable populations.

The nurse also shares responsibility to sustain and protect the nat-

Ural environment from depletion, pollution, degradation and

Destruction.

2. NURSES AND PRACTICE

The nurse carries personal responsibility and accountability for

Nursing practice, and for maintaining competence by continual

Learning.

The nurse maintains a standard of personal health such that the

ability to provide care is not compromised.

The nurse uses judgement regarding individual competence when

accepting and delegating responsibility.

The nurse at all times maintains standards of personal conduct

which reflect well on the profession and enhance public confidence.

The nurse, in providing care, ensures that use of technology and

scientific advances are compatible with the safety, dignity and

rights of people.

3. NURSES AND THE PROFESSION

The nurse assumes the major role in determining and implement-

ing acceptable standards of clinical nursing practice, manage-

ment, research and education.

The nurse is active in developing a core of research-based pro-

fessional knowledge.

The nurse, acting through the professional organisation, partici-

pates in creating and maintaining safe, equitable social and eco-

nomic working conditions in nursing.

4. NURSES AND COWORKERS

The nurse sustains a co-operative relationship with co-workers in

Nursing and other fields.

The nurse takes appropriate action to safeguard individuals, fam-

ilies and communities when their health is endangered by a co-

worker or any other person.