Public Health Nursing Practice Exam

Which code of ethics would a nurse in the 1960s reference for guidance?

1. Nightingale Pledge

2. Code for Professional Nurses

3. Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements

4. International Council of Nurses Code

The correct answer is: Code for Professional Nurses

During the 1960s, nurses would have primarily referenced the Code for Professional Nurses for guidance on ethical practice. Developed by the American Nurses Association in 1950 and revised in subsequent years, this code provided a foundation for professional nursing ethics in the United States. It emphasized the importance of patient care, advocacy, and the responsibilities of nurses to their patients and the profession. The Code for Professional Nurses addressed issues pertinent to the nursing profession at that time, aligning well with the evolving standards of care and ethical considerations. While the Nightingale Pledge and the International Council of Nurses Code exist and have historical relevance, they do not specifically frame ethical nursing practice in the context of the 1960s in the same way as the Code for Professional Nurses. The Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements was not established until 2001, making it unavailable for reference during the 1960s. Thus, the most relevant source for ethical guidance during that decade was indeed the Code for Professional Nurses.