American Nurses Association Code Of Ethics: Article Analysis

According to, “The American Nurses Association Code of Ethics”, this document sets standards for nurses. It exemplifies the role of the nurse and duties to be maintained. For instance, patient advocacy is an important factor to the code of ethics. Patient safety is to be a primary goal for the nurse. I believe this is crucial for all nurses to practice. Individuals in the hospital are not necessarily capable of always expressing their needs. Therefore, it is the nurses responsibility to advocate for the patient during times they cannot. For example, one time I was caring for a patient who did not understand their diagnosis. A team of residents came into this person’s room and overwhelmed them with information. Confused, the patient was unable to understand the complexity of the illness. However, I witnessed the nurse advocating for her patient. She stepped in as a voice, making sure the patient’s questions were answered before they left. For a patient it can be quite intimidating when a group of doctors come in talking about a disease process they have never encountered. So, it was satisfying to see the nurse advocate for the patient. Furthermore, in the article “The ethical dimension of nursing care rationing,” they study the ethical …show more content…
The nurse is constantly during the shift trying to maintain patient safety and comfort. Pain is a major area that is often mistreated. Being the fifth vital sign, pain plays a important factor in the care of an individual. Due to the subjectivity of pain, assessment and treatment are influenced by bias and emotions (Jiménez- Herrea & Axelsson, p. 555). There have been many instances, where nurses I have worked with question the reality of the patient’s pain. However, ethically you are supposed to advocate for the patient and allow them to be as comfortable as