Unethical, professional conduct.

• Jurisdiction: Australia
• Date: 01 June 2012
• Author: Johnstone, Megan-Jane

It is generally accepted that, because of the potential vulnerability of their clientele, professionals have a special obligation to conform to particularly high ethical standards both in their professional and non-professional lives. The exemplary ethical standards which registered nurses are expected to uphold are contained in various format codes and guidelines relevant to the profession and practice of nursing. Notable among these are the Code of Ethics for Nurses in Australia (ANMC 2008), Code of Professional Conduct for Nurses in Australia (ANMC 2008), and National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse (ANMC 2006) (to access these and other documents visit www.nursing midwiferyboard.gov.au/

If a nurse engages in conduct that breaches the agreed standards of the profession this may result in a notification being made to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). If a notification is received by AHPRA, the nurse may be investigated by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (which works in partnership with AHPRA) to 'ensure that appropriate action is taken, if required, to protect the public' www.ahpra.gov.au

The codes and competency standards noted above each contain provisions clarifying that nurses have a stringent responsibility to question and report to an appropriate authority any aspect of patient care or treatment they consider, on reasonable grounds, to be unethical, or potentially unethical, and which may place the safety and quality care of...