The ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses With Interpretive Statements: Resource for Nursing Regulation

The American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics for Nurses With Interpretive Statements informs decision making about ethical violations by nurses and nursing education programs. The Code is the nursing profession's ethical standard of practice and nursing's contract with society. Nurse practice acts (NPAs) and the standards of practice are the profession's legal standard. This article describes the nine provisions of the Code and provides cases of ethical violations and the disciplinary actions that were taken. The intent of this article is to serve as an educational resource on how the Code can be used with NPAs to support nurse regulators in their decision making.