An analysis of nursing priorities worldwide

To help ICN develop programmes to better meet nursing's needs in all countries, a questionnaire was sent to its member associations in 1993 (which totaled 111 vs the current 114) to identify their major priorities and concerns during 1991-92. Below, the response from 50 members, or 45% of membership, representing seven regions worldwide.

Sexual harassment is no laughing matter

Sexual harassment is neither new to nursing nor a recent phenomenon. It has been a fact of life in the wards since the last century. Keenly aware of the abuse suffered by nurses, Florence Nightingale noted "that no male hospital administrator or official ... would intervene on the side of a woman when her accuser was a higher status male, for example a physician or surgeon".

Classification for nursing practice in Brazil

The nursing activities--diagnosis, intervention and client outcome-have several synonyms, different meanings and antagonistic frame-works. Although the study results can be considered as potential barriers to the Classification for Nursing Practice project in Brazil, or anywhere else, they also indicate a high number of references related to this theme, leading us to conclude that there is motivation for defining and classifying nursing phenomena.

The new code of ethics: implications for perioperative nurses

This article will look briefly at the historical development of the Code of Ethics for Nurses and then critique the New Code of Ethics. From there, aspects of the Code will be applied to perioperative nursing. The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) revised its Code of Ethics of Nursing to all its members in November, 1992. Nurses can be guided by this document in ethical issues which they must face in their work. Perioperative nurses encounter specific situations daily, for which the Code of Ethics can be a guide.

Enhancing ethical thinking: the role of a national nurses' association

Values are imbedded in our cultural background and environment. Yet each generation must rethink and reshape ethics in relation to the values of its own time. This is particularly true for healthcare professionals. National nurses' associations owe it to their members to keep them informed about ethical issues and to provide guidance. To be released by ICN at end-April, "Ethics in Nursing Practice" gives a detailed guide to ethical decision making (see advertisement on inside back cover). Below, how Swiss nurses are tackling the ethical issues.