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Merriem Webster Dictionary Defines Ethics As "The Principles

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Merriem Webster Dictionary defines ethics as "the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group; a guiding philosophy" (Ethic). Moral concepts governing a groups behavior cannot “be examined and understood apart from their history" (MacIntyre, 1). Behavior that is seen as good and bad is depicted in ancient literature and poems. Iliad occurs during the Trojan War, circa 500 BC. Socrates (circa 470/469 – 399 BC) is known as one of the founders of modern philosophy; the Socratic Method is a tool used to foster understanding and resolution of moral and ethical concerns. The Dead Sea Scrolls which form much of the foundation of The Bible date as far back as 408 BC. The development of moral concepts and ethical behavior is a work in …show more content…

The document parallels the thought process of the 1920s “that character was a significant factor in determining right action” (Epstein and Turner, 2015). The first official Code of Ethics for Nurses in the United States was implemented in 1950 and detailed 17 provisions of anticipated performance amongst the nursing profession. The current code has been modified and adapted several times so as to keep up with the demands of society and now contains 9 general provisions along with subdivisions. The expectation that nurses collaborate with other professions and treat all individuals with reverence can be found speckled throughout the code.
Provision 1 states “the nurse practice with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes of every person.” Provision 1.5 elaborates on “Relationships with Colleagues and Others” by asserting “respect for persons extends to all individuals with whom the nurse interacts” (ANA, 2015). Provision 2.3 mandates that “the complexity of health care requires collaborative effort that has the strong support and active participation of all health professions [and] nurses should foster collaborative planning” (ANA, 2015). Provision 3.5 describes a chain of command for intervening and acting on the practices of others within the healthcare team that “place the rights or best interests of the patient in jeopardy” beginning with the individual responsible. Finally, Provision 8 reads, “The nurse collaborates with

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