The American Nurses' Association's Code for Nurses: purposes, content, and enforceability

Using Levy's criteria of appraisal for a code of professional ethics, this article assesses the 1976 American Nurses' Association's Code for Nurses with Interpretive Statements in terms of purposes, specificity, inclusiveness, and enforceability. The assessment shows that the Code for Nurses meets generally accepted purposes for a code, contains enough specificity and inclusiveness to serve as a useful guide to professional conduct, and describes initial and follow-up action nurses can take when they witness questionable or inappropriate conduct that may adversely affect the patients' health care or safety. However, limited data are available regarding how the professional body has applied sanctions for violations of the Code. Further study on this matter is indicated and, fortunately, is forthcoming by ANA in an ongoing, planned survey.

An analysis of changing trends in philosophies of science on nursing theory development and testing

The effects of changing trends in philosophies of science on nursing theory development and testing are analyzed. Two philosophies of science--logical empiricism and historicism--are compared for four variables: (1) components of science, (2) conception of science, (3) assessment of scientific progress, and (4) goal of philosophy of science. These factors serve as the basis for assessing trends in the development and testing of nursing theory from 1964 to the present. The analysis shows a beginning philosophic shift within nursing theory from logical empiricism to historicism and addresses implications and recommendations for future nursing theory development and testing.

Factors influencing comprehension of information for informed consent: ethical implications for nursing research

Empirical studies on comprehension of information for informed consent show that research subjects often do not understand major portions of that to which they have consented. This raises the ethical question of whether or not the consent process has accomplished its purpose--the protection of the individual's right to self-determination. This article focuses on the following factors derived from the research literature that influence comprehension of information for informed consent: the nature of information, method of presentation of information, demographic factors, and personal factors. From these factors and methodological considerations, ethical implications for nursing research are addressed.

The American Nurses' Association's position statement on nursing and social policy: philosophical and ethical dimensions

This article analyses the American Nurses' Association's position statement on nursing and social policy. Specifically, its purpose is to highlight three themes suggested within the position statement: nursing as duty, nursing as moral art and nursing as autonomous profession. Questions are raised about the nature and significance of these themes as they relate to philosophical and ethical dimensions within nursing.

Integrating Health Education into Baccalaureate Nursing Education

The nursing department's participation in the Project helped to clarify health education objectives within the curriculum process and this aided in evaluation of the effects of this essential component of nursing care. It had a further advantage of expanding our perspective of health education into an interdisciplinary focus. We will continue to integrate and evaluate the effects of the Project on our nursing curriculum. Ongoing evaluation of new approaches and their feasibility within nursing programs will have exciting implications for nursing education, and ultimately for nursing practice.