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American Nursing Association (ANA) Code Of Ethics

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An analysis of some of the ethical concepts identified from the American Nursing Association (ANA) code of ethics
The American Nursing Associations (ANA) code of ethics for nurse practitioners was first adopted in 1950 with the sole purpose of reinforcing the ethical obligations of every individual who joins the nursing profession (American Nurses Association, 2001). The document provides a detailed and explicit elaboration of the ethical duties that nurses are expected to fulfil in their day to day routine undertakings as nurses. The following paper attempts to analyze some of the ethical concepts identified in the ANA code of ethics for nurses in the United States.
Found in the first provision of the ANA code of ethics, the right to …show more content…
In doing so, nurses are further expected to accommodate families in the decision making process, which is one of the most common reasons why nurses constantly face boundary issues. Fowler (2008) explains that giving respect can be defined as the act of respecting another, an action that requisites an individual to possess a sense of integrity, self-knowledge and authenticity. As a foundational ethical code, the respect ethical principle is termed as the trademark of excellence in the healthcare practice. Suggestions for validating esteem to patients include: attending to patients; authentically engaging patients in the decision-making process; copiously appreciating patients and their decisions; effective communication; and exhibition of neutrality in dialogue and actions. Possible violations comprise: withholding patient information or lying to patients, families, and experts; acting paternalistically as an alternative to valuing another’s decision; providing judgement-laden advice and care; and giving fragmented …show more content…
Confidentiality is considered as the key element for nurses to establish a trusting relationship with patients, families, and other nurses (Lachman, 2006). In the event that a nurse is tempted to disclose patient, this amounts to violations of the limits of confidentiality. An example of such a violation may be a nurse’s intention to withhold information from a patient. Certain violations may not be restricted to limits of confidentiality such as a nurse’s decision to share a patient’s private information within a unit’s nursing

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