ANA Code of Ethics 2025 Provision 1

ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses 2025 

Provision 1: The nurse practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes of every person. 

1.1 Respect for Human Dignity 

This part of Provision 1 views human dignity as a fundamental principle which underlies all nursing practice.  All patients deserve dignity and respect. "The nurse is additionally committed to creating and sustaining an ethical environment where the nurse-patient relationship can flourish" (ANA, 2025, p.1).  So much of what we do as nurses is to support our patients in this environment where patients are capable of flourishing or growing. As nurses, we are taught to respect everyone regardless of their background, gender, race, socioeconomic class, political affiliation etc. The ANA also speaks about allyship in this Provision.  

                Allyship is an ethical duty that requires intentional interventions, advocacy, and 
                support to eliminate harmful acts, words, and deeds. Allyship also requires that
                nurses create space to amplify voices that are not traditionally heard, recognized, 
                or welcomed in order to build and sustain a culture that respects all persons. (ANA, 2025,                     p.1).

The bottom line is that we need to build and sustain a culture that respects all persons. This provision partners well with the dignity component of my ethics model. So many nurses spoke about stories where patients did not feel as if they were being treated with dignity. A lot of the stories surrounded dying patient wishes. A lot of the time the patients forewent what they wanted for end-of-life care in an attempt to make their family members happy. This level of care was sometimes the source of a direct conflict between patients and their families. 

I heard a patient story this week that made me think of dignity in a different capacity. This patient is currently having an acute exacerbation related to their chronic disease process.  This patient has been treated at the same health system for the past 30 years.  However, when the patient called the specialist for an appointment, he was told that since he has not been in the office for three years, he is now considered a "new" patient. There are no new patient appointments available until 2026. The reason this patient has not been in that specialist office is that his condition has been stable, and predominantly managed by another specialist's office.  Now that he is unstable, and having acute symptoms, he is no longer welcome back in office 2 until he follows the new patient process.  How is this treating people with dignity?  Is it that a person's health pales in comparison to scheduling issues? You cannot even get a live person from the specialist office on the phone.  When the office did call the patient back, they left a message that there are no appointments and there is nothing that they can do. 

I am baffled by the lack of care, concern and dignity that patients experience in healthcare. How is it OK to ask a patient with an acute exacerbation to suffer through it?  How is that treating someone with dignity? This patient needs medications adjusted since this is the second acute exacerbation within a month. Obviously, the current treatment is not working.  As nurses, we need to be involved in the change by building and sustaining a culture that respects all persons.

Do you have any stories related to dignity in patient care? Stories surrounding ethical issues and the dignity of a person or patient?  I would love to hear them.  Feel free to share! 


Reference

American Nurses Association (ANA). (2025). Code of ethics for nurses. Silver Spring, MD: Nursesbooks.org.   


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