INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF NURSES
Code for Nurses
1973
The International Council of Nurses approved an international code of ethics in 1973, which includes several notable changes over its earlier 1965 code. (I) The 1973 code makes explicit the nurse's responsibility and accountability for nursing care. It deletes the statement found in the 1965 code, "The nurse is under an obligation to carry out the physician's orders intelligently and loyally," which tended to abrogate the nurse's judgment and personal responsibility. (2) The 1965 code stated that "the nurse believes in the...preservation of human life," adding: "The fundamental responsibility of the nurse is threefold: to conserve life, to alleviate suffering and to promote health." In its place, the 1973 code points to a fourfold responsibility: "...to promote health, to prevent illness, to restore health and to alleviate suffering," adding that "respect for life, dignity and rights of man are inherent in nursing." (3) The traditional concept of the virtuous nurse was expressed in the 1965 code: "In personal conduct nurses should not knowingly disregard the accepted pattern of behavior of the community in which they live and work." In its place, the 1973 code incorporates a statement that places emphasis on the profession: "The nurse when acting in a professional capacity should at all times maintain standards of personal conduct that would reflect credit upon the profession." The text of the 1973 Code for Nurses follows.
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, respects the beliefs, values and customs of the individual .
The nurse holds in confidence personal information and uses judgment 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 judgment 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 that would 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 co-workers 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.
[Reprinted with the permission of the International Council of Nurses.]