Nurses value and advocate for quality practice environments that have the organizational
structures and resources necessary to ensure safety, support and respect for all persons in
the work setting.
1. Nurses must advocate, to the extent possible within the circumstances, for sufficient
human and material resources to provide safe and competent care.
2. Nurses, individually or in partnership with others, must take preventive as well as
corrective action to protect persons from incompetent, unethical or unsafe care.
3. If working short staffed, nurses must set priorities reflecting the allocation of
resources. In such cases, nurses must endeavour to keep patients, families and
employers informed about potential and actual changes to usual routines (CRNM,
2000).
4. Nurses must support a climate of trust that sponsors openness, encourages
questioning the status quo and supports those who speak out publicly in good faith
(e.g., whistle blowing). It is expected that nurses who engage in responsible reporting
of incompetent, unsafe or unethical care or circumstances will be supported by their
professional association.
5. Nurses must advocate for work environments in which nurses and other health
workers are treated with respect and support when they raise questions or intervene to
address unsafe or incompetent practice.
6. Nurses must seek constructive and collaborative approaches to resolve differences
impacting upon care amongst members of the health-care team and commit to
compromise and conflict resolution.
7. Nurses are justified in using reasonable means to protect against violence when,
following an informed assessment, they anticipate acts of violence toward
themselves, others or property. In times when violence cannot be prevented or
anticipated, nurses are justified in taking self-protective action.
8. Nurse managers/administrators must strive to provide adequate staff to meet the
requirements for nursing care as part of their fundamental responsibility to promote
practice environments where fitness to practise and safe care can be maintained
(CARNA, 2004b). With their staff, they should work towards the development of a
moral community.7
9. As part of a moral community, nurses acknowledge their responsibility in
contributing to quality practice settings that are positive, healthy working
environments.
10. Nurses should collaborate with nursing colleagues and other members of the health
team to advocate for health-care environments conducive to ethical practice and to
the health and well-being of clients and others in the setting. They do this in ways
that are consistent with their professional role and responsibilities.