Ethical aspects of nursing care were identified by the American Nurses Association (ANA) in the 2001 code of ethics. The guidelines provide ethical principles to be adhered by every professional nurse:

1. Respect the dignity of all patients, regardless of ethnicity, socio-economic status, or specific health problem; 2. Participate in activities to support maintenance of their professional competence 3. Protect patient's privacy and confidentiality 4. Make a commitment to providing quality patient care in every setting.