The New 'Code of Ethics for Nurses With Interpretive Statements' (2015): Practical Clinical Application, Part I.

I n June 2015, over 300 registered nurses (RNs) gathered in Baltimore, MD, to examine the newly revised Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements (Code) (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2015a). Participants represented all nursing specialties and ranged from new graduates to nurses with more than 40 years of practice experience. All had one thing in common: a need to learn more about this revised Code. Part I of this series introduced the reader to the revised Code, discussed the glossary, and used a nursing case scenario to illustrate Provisions 1 through 4 (Winland-Brown, Lachman, & Swanson, 2015). This article will complete the discussion of the Code, concentrating on Provisions 5 through 9 and including the interpretative statements for each provision. A nursing case scenario will be used to illustrate ethical dilemmas nurses may encounter. Provisions 5 and 6 focus on ethical issues related to boundaries of duty and loyalty. The language used in the revised Code makes these provisions more precise and the interpretive statements supporting the provisions are organized more logically. As a result, the intent of Provisions 5 and 6 is easier to understand. Provisions 7 through 9 concentrate on the nurse’s ethical duties beyond individual patient encounters. These provisions had the most significant changes. They focus on the nurse’s obligation to address social justice issues through direct action and involvement in health policy, as well as a responsibility to contribute to nursing knowledge through scholarly inquiry and research. A case scenario illustrating ethical issues addressed in Provisions 5 through 9 follows.