Respect in every patient encounter
A family friend who’s hospitalized and unable to move their legs due to a neurological disease told me that staff become irritated when they…
From the Ethics Inbox
Protecting nurses, preserving dignity
Our emergency department occasionally receives patients from law enforcement wearing spit hoods, and staff continue using them during care. If we have appropriate personal…
Truth telling and patients with dementia
Is it ethical to “go along” with a patient who has dementia to prevent agitation? This article is available to American Nurses Association members…
Behind the curtain
I occupy a leadership role that places me at the decision-making table for complex, often politically sensitive discussions. In this position, I’m exposed to…
Social media influencers
How does the Code of Ethics for Nurses (Code) guide nursing professionals who want to post on social media about their experiences? This article…
Navigating digital privacy after death
A patient died unexpectedly. As I was gathering his belongings as part of post-mortem care, the family asked me to unlock his phone using…
Responding to refusals of basic care
I’m not sure how to respond when my patients decline basic tasks such as hygiene or dressing changes. I’m uncomfortable proceeding with this level…
Respectful care for gender-diverse patients
During a change-of-shift handoff, I informed the oncoming nurse that a transgender patient uses she/her pronouns. The nurse responded, “I don’t subscribe to this…
Gift giving and receiving in nursing practice
I'm a new nurse on a pediatric oncology unit. Many of my colleagues bring in gifts for their patients. Is this something that I…
Loyalty vs integrity when making a professional endorsement
I'm in a social media group for nurse practitioners (NPs), and a recent discussion made me uncomfortable. One individual offered to write a positive…
Fostering a workplace where nurses can flourish
I’m the Nurse Manager for a 34-bed medical–surgical unit and pursuing my DNP in nursing leadership. My school has a strong focus on ethics,…
Everyday ethics: Interconnected care in a changing world
It seems like the revised Code of Ethics for Nurses, with the addition of Provision 10, is taking us beyond the bedside and our…
Respect in every patient encounter
A family friend who’s hospitalized and unable to move their legs due to a neurological disease told me that staff become irritated…
Protecting nurses, preserving dignity
Our emergency department occasionally receives patients from law enforcement wearing spit hoods, and staff continue using them during care. If we have…
Truth telling and patients with dementia
Is it ethical to “go along” with a patient who has dementia to prevent agitation? This article is available to American Nurses…
Behind the curtain
I occupy a leadership role that places me at the decision-making table for complex, often politically sensitive discussions. In this position, I’m…
Social media influencers
How does the Code of Ethics for Nurses (Code) guide nursing professionals who want to post on social media about their experiences?…
Navigating digital privacy after death
A patient died unexpectedly. As I was gathering his belongings as part of post-mortem care, the family asked me to unlock his…
Responding to refusals of basic care
I’m not sure how to respond when my patients decline basic tasks such as hygiene or dressing changes. I’m uncomfortable proceeding with…
Respectful care for gender-diverse patients
During a change-of-shift handoff, I informed the oncoming nurse that a transgender patient uses she/her pronouns. The nurse responded, “I don’t subscribe…
Gift giving and receiving in nursing practice
I'm a new nurse on a pediatric oncology unit. Many of my colleagues bring in gifts for their patients. Is this something…
Loyalty vs integrity when making a professional endorsement
I'm in a social media group for nurse practitioners (NPs), and a recent discussion made me uncomfortable. One individual offered to write…
Fostering a workplace where nurses can flourish
I’m the Nurse Manager for a 34-bed medical–surgical unit and pursuing my DNP in nursing leadership. My school has a strong focus…
Everyday ethics: Interconnected care in a changing world
It seems like the revised Code of Ethics for Nurses, with the addition of Provision 10, is taking us beyond the bedside…