The purpose of a code of ethics and code of conduct for nursing students.

s a nursing advocate, a nursing educator, and advisor for the NSNA Leadership University at Valencia Community College's Student Nurses Association, I was asked to share my views on the importance and purpose of the NSNA Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct. Many professional organizations such as the American Nurses Association, the American Medical Association, and the American Bar Association, provide their membership with guidelines of acceptable moral and ethical behavior. A professional association has a responsibility + to provide its membership with acceptable frameworks for practice. When these guidelines are not followed, credibility of the profession becomes confusing to society at large. As a result, distrust and loss of confidence ensue. In the case of sometimes confusing and questionable nursing situations, it is invaluable to the new health care provider to have a moral and ethical guideline to follow. As children, our parents helped develop values and beliefs to guide our behavior. Many of us had these positive actions reinforced in religious, educational, and social environments while interacting with friends, family and peers. If we behaved badly, we encountered negative responses such as punishment, exclusion, or even embarrassment. With nursing, we have guidelines which direct us, much as parents. The purpose of the NSNA Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct is to address direct nursing actions within acceptable professional, legal, and ethical parameters. Not only are nurses evaluated by colleagues, but they are assessed in academic, clinical, and community environments. As nurses and future nurses, society expects the best from us in terms of ethical decision-making and virtuous behavior. The Proposed NSNA Code of Academic and Clinical Professional Conduct assists the evolving professional to make wise ethical choices in nursing practice. At the April 2000 NSNA convention in Salt Lake City, the House of Delegates engaged in much heated discussion about the Proposed Code of Academic ,arid Clinical Professional Conduct, with many questions involving points of clarification. These discussions led to continued debates indicating a lack of understanding about the purpose of the Proposed Code. One area of concern involved the need for two codes within one organizational framework. The current NSNA Code of Professional Conduct Part speaks to professional behavior in reference to participating in all levels of NSNA school, state, and national). The NSNA Code of Academic Clinical Professional Conduct A