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Running head: PROFESSIONAL CODENursing Professional Code of Conduct Name:University:Course:Tutor:Date:AbstractNurses require ethics in order to operate professionally as nurses or else they are bound to make mistakes that could harm their profession and those they serve. American Nursing Association (2001) Code provides the basic guiding principles that are to be followed by nurses in order with the view of instilling professionalism in nursing-defining nursing as such. Nurses must respect individual autonomy and dignity, respect the autonomy of every one, put the patient`s interest at heart, treat everyone respectfully, commit themselves to bettering their social and physical working environment and engage in other activities that are geared towards improving the health status of the society at large. Nurses who adhere to this code will be able work well through medical and professional dilemmas that nurses are engulfed in and help separate wheat from chuff in decision making that involves nurses, community, patients and their respective interests. Ethic, in general, are guiding principles that form the basis for decision making with respect to right and wrong choices. Nursing as a profession is guided a professional code of conduct (ethics). The aim of this Code is to bring order, uniformity in the nursing profession so that nurses work as if they are reading from the same scripture. Professional code or ethical guidelines outline the basic elements of character of a nurse. They instill professionalism. According to Crigger and Geofrey (2011), professionalism is understood as qualities of an individual that enable that individual to be distinguished as a professional and, in nursing, as a professional (p. xiv). This means the Code is there to instill a professional character in someone who claims to be a nurse. A strict observer of this Code is regarded as a professional nurse. In Nursing American Nurses Association (ANA) has formulated the nurse`s code of ethics that helps to do just that. The paper discusses some of the ways that professionalism in nursing can be attained as per the ANA (2001) Code. How Can Nurses Operate Professionally?Nurses are expected to respect human dignity, the inherent worth, human rights and uniqueness of every individual irrespective of their economic or social status (ANA, 2001, p. 3). Human dignity cannot be valued in any intrinsic measures of value. Human beings are supreme creatures with indefinable worth. No ne can claim to know the exact value of a twelve months old child and so is a ninety year grandfather. In this regard a nurse is expected to treat a fellow human being, a patient with all the respect for their dignity and not on how much that person has in the bank. A nurse cannot for example pour water on a patient who has relieved himself in the clothes in the name of washing that person. One is not also expected to abuse the patient for not taking medication or breaking a water tumbler it is understan...