Introduction
Nursing is an immensely demanding profession that requires a high level of accountability from practitioners. The codes of ethics presented by the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the International Council of Nurses (ICN) are two crucial documents that help regulate nurses’ conduct. They thoroughly explain the expected duties, competencies, and responsibilities of practitioners that are necessary to provide effective and safe services in healthcare. Most of the regulations are similar for both codes of ethics, but there are several differences between the two.
Comparison and Contrast
Considering similarities, ANA and ICN codes provide detailed information about nurses’ responsibilities in patient care, professional development, and improvement of health outcomes. Moreover, both documents highlight the significance of personal accountability, safety, confidentiality, and integrity (American Nurses Association, n.d.; International Council of Nurses, 2021). The major differences emerge due to the organizations’ locations; for instance, ICN lists the improvement of global health as one of the primary responsibilities (International Council of Nurses, 2021).
On the other hand, ANA operates primarily in the United States with fewer comments about global initiatives. Additionally, ICN provides slightly different explanations for nurses, educators, and organizations concerning every code of conduct (International Council of Nurses, 2021). ANA presents more narrow and specific recommendations, focusing primarily on nurses and not on managers and associations. Personally, I prefer the ANA approach due to its more detailed explanations of each duty and responsibility, focusing on clinical practice.
Conclusion and Reflection
The current essay has shown that both codes of ethics provide valuable information about nurses’ duties. Such documents are critical in the nursing profession due to the practitioners’ impact on health outcomes among patients. Even a slight mistake can lead to disastrous consequences, meaning that nurses should always follow safety regulations and ethical rules to minimize risks. Ultimately, while there are subtle differences between ANA and ICN codes in the phrasing and scope of the profession, both documents are essential for nursing.
References
American Nurses Association. (n.d.). View the code of ethics for nurses. Web.
International Council of Nurses. (2021). The ICN code of ethics for nurses. Web.