Context for Practice: Nurses maintain a high level of professional conduct, are honest, act responsibly, use the highest level of evidence available to guide practice, are trustworthy and accountable with clients and with their intra- and interprofessional colleagues. Nurses take responsibility for their actions and adhere to ethical and regulatory standards and legislative requirements. Nurses fulfil their duty to provide care and follow professional standards and relevant legislation when circumstances may justify discontinuing or declining/refusing to provide care.
| Ethical Responsibilities: Nurses demonstrate integrity in professional practice by |
| 3.1.1 |
accurately representing themselves (e.g., name, professional designation, role) within the context of a professional relationship; |
| 3.1.2 |
making true, honest and accurate claims regarding the nature and scope of their professional practice; |
| 3.1.3 |
demonstrating accountability for their actions, decisions and outcomes of those actions; |
| 3.1.4 |
working collaboratively with intra- and interprofessional colleagues to provide comprehensive and coordinated care/services for clients; |
| 3.1.5 |
treating nursing colleagues and other professions with respect, integrity and courtesy; |
| 3.1.6 |
speaking up, acting, reporting and addressing unsafe, unethical or incompetent practices that threaten client safety, and supporting colleagues who do the same; |
| 3.1.7 |
taking appropriate action when a violation of professional conduct and ethics is identified; |
| 3.1.8 |
taking necessary steps to protect the safety of a client when a colleague is unable for any reason to perform duties; and |
| 3.1.9 |
advising clients, colleagues and employers as early as possible when services will be interrupted (e.g., when planning job action) or terminated and facilitating a referral to another service provider or program. |
In addition, nurses in formal or informal leadership (e.g., administration, clinical care, education, policy and research) roles support nurses to be accountable by
| 3.1.10 |
developing and implementing policies and procedures to guide nurses in ethical reporting that addresses unsafe, unethical or incompetent practices that threaten employee or client safety or a violation of professional conduct, and to protect nurses who report an unethical or unlawful situation. |