NURSING VALUES AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

Rachelle Christine Rogan

Dec 10 10:58pm

Reply from Rachelle Christine Rogan

The ethical standard for nursing practice is the  Code of Ethics for Nurses ( Code) (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2025). The nursing values and professional ethics related to mobility for the older adult, aged 65 years and above, include practicing with respect and compassion that shows dignity and allows autonomy for this vulnerable population, and being committed to recipients of nursing care which aligns with the Age-Friendly Health Systems (AFHS) 4Ms framework component what matters most (ANA, 2025, Provision 1; ANA, 2025, Provision 2; Institute for Healthcare Improvement [IHI], n.d.). In addition, establishing trust in the relationship and advocating for rights, health and patient safety such as medication monitoring, safe use of assistive devices, and fall prevention strategies, and ensuring professional competence in older adult mobility practices are nursing values and professional ethics related to mobility in older adults (ANA, 2025, Provision 3; ANA, 2025, Provision 5; IHI, n.d.). Finally, ensuring responsibility for the healthcare environment that aligns with AFHS 4Ms framework to include appropriate equipment, staffing and workflows that support mobility, and advocating for equitable access to transportation, physical therapy and home safety if necessary are nursing values and professional ethics related to mobility in older adults (ANA, 2025, Provision 6; ANA, 2025, Provision 8; IHI, n.d.). The  Code supports ethical nursing practice in mobility in older adults (ANA, 2025). Research suggests improving nurses’ understanding of ethical principles and legal requirements is important for patient care improvement and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards (Alodhialah et al., 2024).

Nursing values and professional ethics demand mobility for older adults to be on the agenda because mobility impacts autonomy, safety, dignity and quality of life. The principles of bioethics, applying ethical theory and principles in ethical issues, include autonomy, justice, beneficence and non-maleficence (Cheraghi et al., 2023; Varkey, 2021). Autonomy considers the older adult mobility goals regarding independence, movement and activities and supporting informed decision-making while justice requires equitable access to mobility resources, such as transportation, rehabilitation, and home-safety modifications, for underserved or rural older adults who face greater barriers (Fulmer et al., 2021; Varkey, 2021). Beneficence require nurses to promote intervention that maintain function and increase quality of life such as physical therapy while non-maleficence prevents harm associated with immobility by reducing fall risk, monitoring medications that impair gait, and ensuring safe use of assistive devices (Cheraghi et al., 2023; Fulmer et al., 2021; Varkey, 2021). Research suggest healthcare professionals must navigate ethical challenges for older adults with compassion and sensitivity while being accountable to the principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice (Ayati et al., 2024). The  Code prioritizes dignity, advocacy and patient-centered care (ANA, 2025). Promoting mobility is an ethical and professional responsibility essential to safeguarding older adults’ well-being.

 

 

 

References

Alodhialah, A. M., Almutairi, A. A., & Almutairi, M. (2024). Ethical and legal challenges in caring for older adults with multimorbidities: Best practices for nurses.  Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland),  12(16), 1585.  https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12161585Links to an external site.

American Nurses Association. (2025).  Code of ethics for nurses.  https://codeofethics.ana.org/homeLinks to an external site.

Ayati, A., Payab, M., Shadman, Z., Shojaei, A., Asadi, M., Sharifi, F., Ebrahimpur, M., & Larijani, B. (2024). Ethics and healthcare in the older adult population.  Journal of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine,  17, 12.  https://doi.org/10.18502/jmehm.v17i12.18664Links to an external site.

Cheraghi, R., Valizadeh, L., Zamanzadeh, V., Hassankhani, H., & Jafarzadeh, A. (2023). Clarification of ethical principle of the beneficence in nursing care: An integrative review.  BMC Nursing,  22(1), 89.  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-023-01246-4Links to an external site.

Fulmer, T., Reuben, D. B., Auerbach, J., Fick, D. M., Galambos, C., & Johnson, K. S. (2021). Actualizing better health and health care for older adults.  Health Affairs,  40(2), 219-225.  https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.01470Links to an external site.

Institute for Healthcare Improvement. (n.d.).  Age-friendly health systems.  https://www.ihi.org/partner/initiatives/age-friendly-health-systemsLinks to an external site.

Varkey, B. (2021). Principles of clinical ethics and their application to practice.  Medical Principles and Practice,  30(1), 17-28.  https://doi.org/10.1159/000509119Links to an external site.