Icn Code of Ethics For Nurses 1
Icn Code of Ethics For Nurses 1
Icn Code of Ethics For Nurses 1
FOR NURSES
What are the ICN codes of Ethics?
The ICN Code of Ethics for Nurses is a
statement of the ethical values,
responsibilities and professional
standards of nurses. It guides
everyday ethical nursing practice and
can serve as a regulatory tool to guide
and define ethical nursing practice.
Purpose of the ICN Code of Ethics for Nurses
Since it was first adopted in 1953 the ICN Code of Nursing Ethics has
guided nursing practice across the globe.
Since then it has been revised regularly in response to changes in
nurses’ roles and responsibilities, health care, and society as a whole.
The Code is a statement of the professional values, responsibilities, and
accountabilities of nurses with the purpose of guiding ethical nursing
practice.
It serves as a framework for resolving the ethical dilemmas faced by
nurses irrespective of their role or the setting in which they practice.
Furthermore, the Code lays a foundation that can be
built on by the law, regulations, and professional
standards which govern nursing practice in a particular
country.
Review for the new 2021 ICN Code of Ethics for
Nurses started in 2019. The work was done by an
Expert Steering Group, ICN Board members which
represent all ICN member countries, and ICN
Staff. Besides the English version, the document is also
available in Spanish, French, and German.
The revised edition is divided into four
sections representing the principal
elements for ethical conduct:
• nurses and patients or other people
requiring services
• nurses and practice
• nurses and the profession
• nurses and global health.
ELEMENTS OF THE CODE
1. NURSES AND PATIENTS OR PEOPLE REQUIRING CARE1
1.1 Nurses’ primary professional responsibility is to people requiring nursing
care whether individuals, families, communities or populations (hereinafter
referred to as either ‘patients’ or ‘people requiring care’).
1.2 Nurses promote an environment in which the human rights, values,
customs, religious and spiritual beliefs of the individual, family and
community are respected and promoted by everyone.
1.3 Nurses ensure that the individual receives accurate, sufficient and timely
information in a culturally appropriate manner on which to base consent for
care and related treatment.
1.4 Nurses hold in confidence personal information and respect the privacy,
confidentiality and interests of patients in the lawful collection, use, access,
transmission, storage and disclosure of this information.
1.5 Nurses respect the privacy and confidentiality of colleagues and people
requiring care and uphold the integrity of the nursing profession in person and
in all media, including social media.
1.5 Nurses respect the privacy and confidentiality of colleagues
and people requiring care and uphold the integrity of the
nursing profession in person and in all media, including social
media.
1.6 Nurses share with society the responsibility for initiating and
supporting action to meet the health and social needs of all
people.
1.7 Nurses advocate for equity and social justice in resource
allocation, access to health care and other social and economic
services.
1.8 Nurses demonstrate professional values such as respect,
justice, responsiveness, compassion, empathy, trustworthiness
and integrity
1.9 Nurses provide evidence-informed, person-
centered care, recognizing and using the values
and principles of primary health care and health
promotion.
1.10 Nurses encourage a culture of safe health
care and raise any concerns regarding the
safety of people and health services.
1.11 Nurses support and protect the right to
self-determination of all patients and other
health care professionals.
1.12 Nurses ensure that use of technology and scientific advances are
compatible with the safety, dignity and rights of people.
In the case of devices, such as robots, nurses ensure that care remains
person-centered and that such devices support and do not replace human
relationships.