Icn Code of Nursing

The ICN Code of Ethics for Nurses

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Copyright © 2006 by ICN - International Council of Nurses, 3, place Jean-Marteau, 1201 Geneva (Switzerland) ISBN : 92-95040-41-4 Printing : Imprimerie Fornara

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 considerations 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.

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THE ICN CODE
The ICN Code of Ethics for Nurses has four principal elements that outline the standards of ethical conduct.

ELEMENTS

OF THE

CODE

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... [continues]

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