Nurses must vow not to reveal patients private information to third party, do not cause any harm to them and most importantly help the patient recover fast. The general public is completely dependent on nurses when they are ill as they are in a very helpless stage so they must be assured that those who are responsible to take their care should look for their welfare.

Purpose of the Code of Ethics

The Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses serves as a foundation for nurses’ ethical practice. It provides guidance for ethical responsibilities, relationships, behaviors and most importantly decision-making. The Code of Ethics should be used in combination with the existing professional standards, regulations and laws that guide practitioners.

There is certain purpose behind these codes of ethics which is as follows:-

1] Every patient being admitted to hospital or any health care center has right to maintain privacy and they have to be contented with the fact that their private affairs which they share with any of the medical personnel will be kept confidential.

2] All the nursing practitioners should abide by the code of ethics.

3] In nursing profession, the patient’s well being and safety should always be given the first priority. Nurses have to always do their best to maintain the trust and confidence laid on them by the patients.

The Code of Ethics serves the purpose of self-reflection and self-evaluation for principled nursing practice and it also forms the basis for peer review and feedback. It is a kind of ethics based on which all nurses can practice under quality work environments so as to support the deliverance of ethical, compassionate, safe and competent care.

Nursing is very reputable profession and people involved in this profession have the opportunity of being part of a self-regulating profession and should value this responsibility. The Code of Ethics informs all the nurses, general public as well as other health-care professionals about the moral commitments and social responsibilities which nurses have to accept for becoming part of this self-regulating profession.

According to the Code of Ethics for nursing, Primary Nursing Values involves tasks like:-

• Providing competent, compassionate, safe and right care to all the patients.
• Promoting and respecting informed decision-making of every patient
• Promoting health and well-being of all the patients
• Preserving dignity
• Promoting justice
• Maintaining confidentiality and privacy
• Being accountable for their actions

Consequences of disobedience

When any of the nurse or nursing student disobeys the code of ethics in nursing homes, this can make patients as well as their families distrustful and very fearful of all the staff.
This in turn causes distress and argument amongst the staff members of respective health care center and has adverse effects on its functioning. Even the single disobedience from any of the staff member can leave a stain on all of their coworkers.

Conclusion
The code of ethics in nursing signifies not only commitment and pledge, but also the devotion of individuals involved in this missions of mercy. The disabled, the elderly, the young and the weak are at the mercy of people engaged in the healing arts and nurses are more trusted than any of the caregivers. This is really a great honor and nurses must respect the trust and belief laid on them by public and always strives to do their best for patients.

Above mentioned specific values and ethical responsibilities are expected of each of the registered nurses as well as nursing students and they should abide by them.

Technorati Tags: ethics in nursing, nursing