What does the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics state regarding impaired practice?

What does the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics state regarding impaired practice?

• A. Nurses may ignore impairment if productivity remains high
• B. Nurses must report practices that jeopardize patient safety and ensure the impaired individual receives assistance
• C. Impairment is not a nursing ethics concern
• D. Only physicians have an ethics obligation to report impairment

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that protecting patients from harm is a fundamental nursing responsibility, and addressing a colleague’s impairment is part of ethical practice. The ANA Code of Ethics requires nurses to take action when impairment or unsafe practices could jeopardize patient safety, which includes reporting the situation to the appropriate supervisor or authority and ensuring the impaired nurse receives help or treatment so they can practice safely again. This reflects a balance of safeguarding patients (beneficence and nonmaleficence) with compassion for the colleague by facilitating access to support and rehabilitation. Ignoring impairment would put patients at risk and contradict professional duties, and impairment is indeed a nursing ethics concern, not something limited to physicians. The obligation to protect patients and promote safe care applies to all nurses.

The main idea is that protecting patients from harm is a fundamental nursing responsibility, and addressing a colleague’s impairment is part of ethical practice. The ANA Code of Ethics requires nurses to take action when impairment or unsafe practices could jeopardize patient safety, which includes reporting the situation to the appropriate supervisor or authority and ensuring the impaired nurse receives help or treatment so they can practice safely again. This reflects a balance of safeguarding patients (beneficence and nonmaleficence) with compassion for the colleague by facilitating access to support and rehabilitation.

Ignoring impairment would put patients at risk and contradict professional duties, and impairment is indeed a nursing ethics concern, not something limited to physicians. The obligation to protect patients and promote safe care applies to all nurses.