According to the ANA Code of Ethics, what responsibility do nurses have toward their patients?

The ANA Code of Ethics emphasizes the importance of respecting and supporting patients' rights, particularly their right to self-determination. This means that nurses are responsible for ensuring that patients have the autonomy to make informed decisions about their own healthcare. This includes providing patients with the necessary information about their treatment options, allowing them to express their preferences, and respecting their choices, even if those choices differ from what the healthcare team might suggest.

Supporting self-determination is vital because it empowers patients and recognizes their individuality and capacity to engage in their own care. It aligns with the ethical principles of autonomy and respect for persons, thereby fostering a collaborative nurse-patient relationship that is essential for effective healthcare delivery.

Prioritizing hospital interests, enforcing regulations, or simply ensuring patients can choose their outcomes may overlook the essential ethical obligation of nurses to advocate for and uphold the dignity and agency of patients, which is central to the practice of nursing as outlined in the ANA Code of Ethics.