Which statement requires further education about ethics and values?

• A. The American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics remains constant over time.
• B. Ethical principles guide professional behavior.
• C. Values influence clinical decisions.
• D. The code applies across health care settings.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that ethics and values in nursing require ongoing education because professional ethics evolve as practice changes, technology advances, and societal expectations shift.

The statement that the ANA Code of Ethics remains constant over time would require further education because codes are periodically revised to reflect new realities in care delivery, patient rights, and professional responsibilities. Foundational principles like beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice remain relevant, but how they’re applied and what guidance the code provides can change with new contexts—telehealth, digital records, diverse populations, and complex care settings among them. Keeping up-to-date with these revisions helps nurses apply ethical principles correctly in current practice.

The other statements align with how ethics functions in nursing: ethical principles guide professional behavior, values influence clinical decisions, and the code is intended to apply across health care settings.