Choose one provision from the ANA Code of Ethics. How is ethical behavior an integral part of being a nurse leader? How does one communicate the characteristics of a role model with this provision? Do ethics influence the leadership style of the nurse leader?
DQ 11-1: Ethics and Leadership in Nursing
The American Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Nurses is a documentation of nine provisions that outline the moral foundations that govern the practice of nurses. Provision 6 of the code states that “The nurse, through individual and collective effort, establishes, maintains, and improves the ethical environment of the work setting and conditions of employment that are conducive to safe, quality health care (American Nurses Association, 2015).” The nurse leader should display ethical behavior to ensure the successful implementation of provision 6 in practice settings.
Ethical behavior is an integral part of being a nurse leader because it influences the nurse leader to differentiate between right and wrong and make decisions that will not cause harm to both their organizations and patients. To be able to create an environment that supports the delivery of high-quality care, nurse leaders need to possess moral courage and consciousness that will enable them to adhere to the requirements of their professional Code of Ethics (Pakizekho & Barkhordari-Sharifabad, 2022). As role models, nurse leaders need to possess relevant leadership characteristics that are aligned with provision 6 of the Code of Ethics for Nurses. One can communicate the characteristics of a role model with this provision by displaying respect for healthcare professionals and teams, compassion, honesty, fairness, humility, increased awareness of people’s needs, and the protection of patients and nurses from harm (El-Gazar & Zoromba, 2021). Notably, ethics has an influence on the leadership style used by a nurse leader. Precisely, ethics influences leaders to adopt a leadership style that will enable them to engage in value-driven decision-making and lead by example by not violating the Code of Ethics for Nurses.
References
American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of ethics with interpretative statements. Silver Spring, MD: Author
El-Gazar, H. E., & Zoromba, M. A. (2021). Ethical leadership, flourishing, and extra-role behavior among nurses. SAGE Open Nursing, 7, 23779608211062669. https://doi.org/10.1177/23779608211062669
Pakizekho, S., & Barkhordari-Sharifabad, M. (2022). The relationship between ethical leadership, conscientiousness, and moral courage from nurses’ perspective. BMC Nursing, 21(1), 164. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-022-00941-y.