A Code of Ethics for Nursing in Australia

In 2008, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council published a new national code of ethics for nurses and midwives. The code offers guidance to the 200,000 practicing nurses in Australia on their professional behavior.

Values within the Code

• The code includes eight value statements stating that nurses appreciate the uniqueness and diversity of people and value access to quality care for everyone. They practice respect and kindness for themselves as well as others, and a culture of safety in nursing and health care in general.

Beyond the Individual

• For each of the eight value statements in the code of ethics, nurses have to consider four people or groups: themselves, the patient, their colleagues and the community.