Practicing with compassion and respect for all patients is _____.

Practicing with compassion and respect for all patients is _____.

• A. Legally mandated
• B. Morally wrong
• C. Part of the ANA code of ethics
• D. Part of the patient's legal record

Answer: (C)

Compassion and respect for every patient are professional standards rooted in nursing ethics. The ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements establishes that nurses must treat patients with dignity, honor their autonomy, and advocate for their well-being. This ethical framework guides daily interactions and relationships with patients, making compassionate, respectful care a codified expectation of practice. While laws may require certain protections, the explicit duty to practice with compassion and respect comes from the ethical code, not from a patient’s legal record.

Compassion and respect for every patient are professional standards rooted in nursing ethics. The ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements establishes that nurses must treat patients with dignity, honor their autonomy, and advocate for their well-being. This ethical framework guides daily interactions and relationships with patients, making compassionate, respectful care a codified expectation of practice. While laws may require certain protections, the explicit duty to practice with compassion and respect comes from the ethical code, not from a patient’s legal record.