Nursing Student Handbook

Ethics for Nurses  

Life and death decisions are a part of nursing, and ethics are therefore fundamental to the integrity of the nursing profession. Every day, nurses support each other to fulfill their ethical obligations to patients and the public, but in an ever-changing world – there are increased challenges. Butler’s Department of Nursing prepares students to be excellent nurses who support their patients and each other and uphold the American Nurses Association’s Code of Ethics.

The Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements is the social contract that nurses have with the U.S. public. It exemplifies our profession’s promise to provide and advocate for safe, quality care for all patients and communities. It binds nurses to support each other so that all nurses can fulfill their ethical and professional obligations. This Code reflects the proud ethical heritage of nursing; one which will continue, whatever challenges the modern health care system presents.” (ANA, 2023) 

The Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements 10 Provisions are:  

1. “The nurse practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes of every person.”
2. “A nurse’s primary commitment is to the recipient(s) of nursing care, whether an individual, family, group, community, or population.”  
3. “The nurse establishes a trusting relationship and advocates for the rights, health, and safety of recipients of nursing care.”  
4. “Nurses have authority over nursing practice and are responsible and accountable for their practice consistent with their obligations to promote health, prevent illness, and provide optimal care.”  
5. The nurse has moral duties to self as a person of inherent dignity and worth including an expectation of a safe place to work that fosters flourishing, authenticity of self at work, and self-respect through integrity and professional competence.”
6. “Nurses, through individual and collective effort, establish, maintain, and improve the ethical environment of the work setting that affects nursing care and the well-being of nurses.”
7. "Nurses advance the profession through multiple approaches to knowledge development, professional standards, and the generation of policies for nursing, health, and social concerns.”
8. “Nurses build collaborative relationships and networks with nurses, other healthcare and nonhealthcare disciplines, and the public to achieve greater ends.”  
9. "Nurses and their professional organizations work to enact and resource practices, policies, and legislation to promote social justice, eliminate health inequities, and facilitate human flourishing.  
10. “Nursing, through organizations and associations, participates in the global nursing and health community to promote human and environmental health, well-being, and flourishing.” (American Nurses Association, 2025, p. vii-ix) 

Nursing students are expected to conduct themselves at all times in accordance with the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses when identifying themselves as a Butler Nursing Student.  Which means that nursing students must:

1. Display a professional attitude to patients, their families, and other members of the health care team.  
2. Constantly demonstrate a professional demeanor and remain visibly calm in a variety of clinical settings.  
3. Constantly exercise appropriate clinical reasoning/judgment skills and have the ability to set priorities.  
4. Demonstrate the ability to cope with an array of unpredictable situations, be flexible, and remain emotionally stable under stress.  
5. Demonstrate the ability to self-regulate, professionally accept constructive feedback and remain emotionally stable when performing under stress. Students must be able to cope with a variety of unpredictable situations and demonstrate flexibility.  
6. Not pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of others in the class and clinical situation.  
7. Be able to respond appropriately to emergencies.  

Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action; including possible dismissal from the nursing program or even from the college as outlined below. Nursing students must:

1. Display a professional attitude to patients, their families, and other members of the health care team.  
2. Constantly demonstrate a professional demeanor and remain visibly calm in a variety of clinical settings.  
3. Constantly exercise appropriate clinical reasoning/judgment skills and have the ability to set priorities.  
4. Demonstrate the ability to cope with an array of unpredictable situations, be flexible, and remain emotionally stable under stress.  
5. Demonstrate the ability to self-regulate, professionally accept constructive feedback and remain emotionally stable when performing under stress. Students must be able to cope with a variety of unpredictable situations and demonstrate flexibility.  
6. Not pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of others in the class and clinical situation.  
7. Be able to respond appropriately to emergencies.