What is the primary purpose of the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses, and how does it guide professional decision-making?

• A. It states the ethical duties and values of nursing and guides decision-making by advocacy, accountability, and patient-centered care.
• B. It sets legal penalties for misconduct and mandates reporting to authorities.
• C. It provides a step-by-step clinical protocol for common procedures.
• D. It defines salary scales and employment benefits for nurses.

Answer: (A)

The main idea this question tests is how the ANA Code of Ethics functions as a guide for nurses’ decisions. It lays out the ethical duties and values that nurses uphold and uses them to shape everyday practice. This means decisions are anchored in advocating for patients, being accountable for one’s actions, and delivering care that centers the patient’s needs, rights, and dignity.

The Code isn't a legal penalty or a set of mandatory procedures, nor does it define salaries or employment rules. Instead, it provides a framework for ethical analysis when dilemmas arise—such as balancing patient autonomy with family wishes, protecting confidentiality, or allocating care under limited resources. By emphasizing advocacy, accountability, and patient-centered care, the Code directs nurses to act with integrity and to prioritize the patient’s well-being in every judgment.

So the choice that describes ethical duties and values guiding decision-making through advocacy, accountability, and patient-centered care is the best fit.