The Nurse Ethics at a Glance

It is our duty as nurses to know the code of ethics of our profession. For sheer love of this path, I decided to read about The Nurse Code of Ethics.

Take note that I am referring to the original code and not merely the short versions we often read in books. I had no idea of what lies ahead, but I moved on in the hope that it will deepen my dedication to this unselfish occupation. So, I sat there with a glass of cold water in hand ready to enhance my knowledge and then I began to read. I scanned the first few paragraphs of the Code and find myself going wide-eyed with each word. The Code of Ethics is not like any short story, or news article that I ever read. It is filled with numbers and words that I barely understood, and some that I have no idea whatsoever. I sometimes catch myself skipping off paragraphs and fighting boredom. But I read on, determined to finish the whole thing.


I read about the how the welfare of the people is important to a nurse. That we should respect every aspect of one’s being whether it is spiritual, emotional, and physical. Furthermore, it is also as essential to have harmony within our workplace. We should also respect our colleagues, superiors and even those outside our network, in other words, everyone.



At last, I was able to conquer that piece of work and something changed within me. I realized that you don’t have to be intelligent nor pretty, or tall even, to be a great nurse. What you need is the heart and compassion to help others. Reading the Nurse Code of Ethics, I learned that high grades or perfect scores don’t matter but what’s important is your desire to be of service to the people, sick and well. If we engrave in our heart and mind this sincerity, then studying and memorizing all the drug actions, illness pathology, and skills will be easy. For example, when taking care of a patient with tuberculosis you would do everything that you can to help your patient. And in order to do that, you need to read your books, do research, master the skills, and know all there is to know about your patient’s illness.

As students, we spend sleepless nights studying, completing requirements and such so that we can pass our course. But, if we think differently, if we think more about our patients and less about ourselves, won’t studying to be the best nurse that we can be easier? Learning doesn’t end once we become full-fledged nurses. We will undergo different trainings to hone our skills. Some of us may even take on Masters Classes, but what for? To have jobs and go abroad or be chief nurses and be rich? If so, maybe we spent four years on the wrong course.

Nursing a caring profession. It is not designed for richness or fame. It is a great cause headed by humble people. We may not change the world in an instance but we can touch the lives of others one patient at a time.